Citation: Rudolphi, J. Bot.(Schrader) 2:286 (1800).

Synonymy: Erica lusitanica

Common name: Portuguese heath, Spanish heath.

Description:
Erect shrubs usually under 2 m high; young shoots densely hairy with smooth hairs only; leaves linear, suberect, glabrous, entire or minutely denticulate, 3-7 mm long; margins revolute, concealing the entire lower surface.

Flowers in lateral racemes forming much-branched many-flowered masses of flowers; pedicels glabrous, with 2 or 3 c. 0.5 mm long bracteoles below the middle; sepals c. 1 mm long, ovate, glabrous, not saccate; corolla broadly campanulate, with erect lobes, pinkish, 4-5 mm long; anthers included, with flat ciliate basal appendages; ovary glabrous; stigma obconical, red.

Published illustration: Polunin & Smythies (1973) Flowers of south-west Europe, pl. 34.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: SL, SE.   N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   New Zealand. Native to south-western Europe. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: mainly May — Sept.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available