Erica bolusanthus E.G.H.Oliv.

Low compact to semi-prostrate shrublets up to 300 mm tall or dense, erect up to 1 m tall, single-stemmed reseeder or a multi-stemmed resprouter. Branches: many erect main branches with numerous short lateral flowering branchlets 2-14 mm long, main branches either terminating in an inflorescence or continuing growth, young branches puberulous often with short gland-tipped hairs intermixed, hairs spreading, no infrafoliar ridges. Leaves 3-nate, erect, imbricate, 1.5-3.0 x 0.3 mm, lanceolate to oblong, apex acute, adaxial surface flat, abaxial surface rounded and narrow-sulcate, margins acute-angular but often obtuse towards apex, glabrous or slightly hirsute, often with apical tuft, margins with sessile glands; petiole adpressed, 0.3 mm long, puberulous, margins with sessile glands. Inflorescence: flowers 3-nate in 1 or 2 whorls, when 2-whorled then umbel-like, terminal on main branches and secondary branchlets; pedicel 0.2 mm long, puberulous; bract recaulescent, approximate to calyx, 0.5-0.8 x 0.2 mm, oblong, leaf-like and as long as calyx or smaller and equal to bracteoles, green, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, sometimes with a few sessile glands on margin; bracteoles 2, approximate, 0.5 x 0.2 mm, otherwise like the subequal bract. Calyx 4-lobed, 1.0 x 0.7 mm, broadly cyathiform, glabrous or sparsely puberulous, mostly green sometimes thinner and pink; lobes 1/2-2/3 the length of calyx, lanceolate, apex subacute, subbroad sulcus 1/4 the length of calyx, sparsely puberulous often with tuft of hairs at apex, margins with a few sessile glands. Corolla 4-lobed, 1.5-2.0 x 1.0 mm, cyathiform, glabrous, colliculate in upper half distinctly tuberculate in lower half, pale to deep pink; lobes erect, 0.2 x 0.4 mm, subacute, erose (sparsely ciliate). Stamens 4, free, far exserted; filaments up to 2x the length of corolla, linear, straight, glabrous; anthers dorsifixed in lower half, cuneate to ovate, dark brown, muticous sometimes spurred; thecae erect, adpressed, 1.0 x 0.25 mm, oblong, minutely aculeate sometimes with a few long hairs on adaxial edges; spurs, when present, small projections from apex of filament where it joins thecae; pore 1/3 the length of theca; pollen in monads. Ovary [1]2(3 or 4)-locular, 0.4 x 0.4 mm, broadly ellipsoid, flattened laterally, apex subemarginate, mostly with a narrow longitudinal groove between the 2 halves, sparsely puberulous towards apex, no basal nectaries; ovules 1[2] per locule, pendulous, placenta apical; style exserted, 2-3x length of corolla, terete, glabrous; stigma rather variable, from truncate to cyathiform to peltate with or without 2 terminal stigmatic processes. Fruit indehiscent, up to 3x the length of the ovary, broadly ellipsoid; pericarp thick, often with distinct narrow groove down the broader sides, pustulate, exocarp thin, mesocarp thick red fleshy, endocarp thick leathery, many crystals; seeds ellipsoid, testa very thin, cells elongate with jigsawed anticlinal walls, no pits present. Flowering time: November to May, usually earlier months at lower altitudes, but also up to September in some localities.