Erica (plant)
Erica | |
---|---|
Erica carnea in flower | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Subfamily: | Ericoideae |
Tribe: | Ericeae |
Genus: | Erica L. |
Species | |
Synonyms[1][2] | |
List
|
Erica is a
Description
Most of the species of Erica are small
Taxonomy
Dulfer[4][5] published the last revision of the genus Erica in the 1960s, treating 605 species. Many new species have subsequently been described (particularly in South Africa) and a further 83 have been included in Erica from former "minor genera", such as Phillipia Klotzsch and Blaeria L.[6] A more recent overview of Erica species is provided in an electronic identification aid,[7] but a modern taxonomic revision of the genus as a whole is still lacking.
Phylogeny
A number of increasingly detailed phylogenetic hypotheses for Erica have been published based on nuclear
Species
Selected species include:
- Erica abietina
- Erica arborea
- Erica australis
- Erica azorica
- Erica baccans
- Erica caffra
- Erica cabernetea
- Erica canaliculata
- Erica capensis
- Erica carnea
- Erica cerinthoides
- Erica ciliaris
- Erica cinerea
- Erica comorensis
- Erica cruenta
- Erica × darleyensis
- Erica erigena
- Erica grandiflora
- Erica haematocodon
- Erica hirtiflora
- Erica jasminiflora
- Erica lusitanica
- Erica mackayana
- Erica mammosa
- Erica manipuliflora
- Erica margaritacea
- Erica mollis
- Erica multiflora
- Erica nana
- Erica nyassana
- Erica patersonia
- Erica peltata
- Erica plukenetii
- Erica pyramidalis
- Erica recurvata
- Erica reunionensis
- Erica scoparia
- Erica terminalis
- Erica tetralix
- Erica turgida
- Erica urna-viridis
- Erica vagans
- Erica ventricosa
- Erica versicolor
- Erica verticillata
-
Heather fields in Ortegal (Galicia, Spain)
Etymology
The
Distribution and habitat
Around 690 of the species are
Like most Ericaceae, Erica species are mainly
.Ecology
Plants of this genus are eaten mainly by the
Some species of sunbirds are known to visit and pollinate Erica. Two such species are the southern double-collared sunbird and the orange-breasted sunbird.
Cultivation
Erica species are grown as landscape or garden plants for their floral effect. They associate well with
References
- ^ "Erica Tourn. ex L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). "Ericaceae genera". Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-77007-265-7.
- JSTOR 41769215.
- JSTOR 41764839.
- ISBN 978-0-7992-2202-9.
- ^ Oliver, E.G.H.; Forshaw, N. (2012). "Genus Erica An Identification Aid Version 3.00". Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium. 22.
- S2CID 85222709.
- ^ PMID 25888972.
- ^ PMID 21722743.
- ^ PMID 27639849.
- ISBN 978-0-806-13029-3.
- ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3.
- ISBN 978-0-37603-851-7.
- ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7.
- ISBN 978-0199206872.
- S2CID 44647405.
- ISBN 978-1405332965.