Erica (plant)

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Erica
Erica carnea in flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Subfamily: Ericoideae
Tribe: Ericeae
Genus: Erica
L.
Species

See list of Erica species

Synonyms[1][2]
List
    • Acrostemon Klotzsch
    • Aniserica (Bartl.) N.E.Br.
    • Anomalanthus Klotzsch
    • Apogandrum Neck.
    • Arachnocalyx Compton
    • Arsace Fourr.
    • Blaeria L.
    • Bruckenthalia Rchb.
    • Callista D.Don
    • Ceramia D.Don
    • Chlorocodon Fourr.
    • Chona D.Don
    • Coccosperma Klotzsch
    • Codonanthemum Klotzsch
    • Coilostigma Klotzsch
    • Comacephalus Klotzsch
    • Dasyanthes D.Don
    • Desmia D.Don
    • Ectasis D.Don
    • Eleutherostemon Klotzsch
    • Eremia D.Don
    • Eremiella Compton
    • Eremiopsis N.E.Br.
    • Eremocallis Salisb. ex Gray
    • Ericinella Klotzsch
    • Ericodes Kuntze
    • Ericoides Heist. ex Fabr.
    • Eriodesmia D.Don
    • Eurylepis D.Don
    • Euryloma D.Don
    • Eurystegia D.Don
    • Finckea Klotzsch
    • Grisebachia Klotzsch
    • Gypsocallis Salisb. ex Gray
    • Hexastemon Klotzsch
    • Kolbia Adans.
    • Lagenocarpus Klotzsch
    • Lamprotis D.Don
    • Lepterica N.E.Br.
    • Lophandra D.Don
    • Lopherina Neck. ex A.Juss.
    • Macnabia Benth. ex Endl.
    • Macrolinum Klotzsch
    • Microtrema Klotzsch
    • Mitrastylus Alm & T.C.E.Fr.
    • Nabea Lehm. ex Klotzsch
    • Nagelocarpus Bullock
    • Octogonia Klotzsch
    • Octopera D.Don
    • Omphalocaryon Klotzsch
    • Pachycalyx Klotzsch
    • Pachysa D.Don
    • Pentapera Klotzsch
    • Philippia Klotzsch
    • Pilopus Raf.
    • Plagiostemon Klotzsch
    • Platycalyx N.E.Br.
    • Salaxis Salisb.
    • Scyphogyne Decne.
    • Simocheilus Klotzsch
    • Stokoeanthus E.G.H.Oliv.
    • Sympieza Licht. ex Roem. & Schult.
    • Syndesmanthus Klotzsch
    • Syringodea D.Don
    • Tetralix Zinn
    • Thamnium Klotzsch
    • Thamnus Klotzsch
    • Thoracosperma Klotzsch
    • Tristemon Klotzsch

Erica is a

corolla
consisting of separate petals. Erica is sometimes referred to as "winter (or spring) heather" to distinguish it from Calluna "summer (or autumn) heather".

Description

Most of the species of Erica are small

umbels or spikes, and are usually outward or downward facing. The seeds
are very small, and in some species may survive in the soil for decades.

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

monophyletic groups.[11]

Species

Selected species include:

Etymology

The

OED: "Erica"), but /ˈɛrɪkə/ is more commonly heard.[14]

Distribution and habitat

Around 690 of the species are

endemic to South Africa, and these are often called the Cape heaths, forming the largest genus in the fynbos.[15]
The remaining species are native to other parts of Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean, and Europe.

Like most Ericaceae, Erica species are mainly

heathland and moorland), or the ground vegetation of open acidic woodland
.

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

Heather Garden, Ness Botanic Gardens

Erica species are grown as landscape or garden plants for their floral effect. They associate well with

conifers and are frequently seen in planting schemes as massed groundcover beneath varieties of dwarf conifers. They are capable of producing flower colour throughout the year. They can also be grown in tubs or window boxes to provide interest through autumn and into winter.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Erica Tourn. ex L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  2. ^ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). "Ericaceae genera". Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
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  7. ^ Oliver, E.G.H.; Forshaw, N. (2012). "Genus Erica An Identification Aid Version 3.00". Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium. 22.
  8. S2CID 85222709
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