Erica globiceps (N.E.Br.) E.G.H.Oliv.

Dense compact shrublets either low rounded to 150 mm tall or erect to 400 mm tall, single-stemmed reseeder. Branches: numerous erect main branches with few secondary branchlets 2-20 mm long, no infrafoliar ridges, pubescent with spreading hairs. Leaves 4(3)-nate erect to semi-spreading to spreading or reflexed, straight to recurved, imbricate as long as internodes, 1.5-3.0 x 1.5-2.0 mm, ovate to lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, adaxially flat, abaxially rounded, narrowly sulcate, glabrous to pubescent, ciliolate with a few sessile glands admixed, often tufted apically, green to glaucous; petiole adpressed, 0.4-0.8 mm, glabrous, ciliate with a few sessile glands admixed. Inflorescence: flowers 3(4)-nate ±5-verticillate in condensed head-like racemes terminal on main branches and much shorter secondary branchlets; pedicel absent or very short to 0.2 mm long, glabrescent; bract non-recaulescent and leaf-like in lowest whorl, in some staying non-recaulescent and leaf-like but reducing slightly in size in upper whorls, in others becoming partially recaulescent, bracteose and much reduced mostly in width, 0.7-3.0 x 0.2-2.0 mm, glabrous to pubescent, some edged with sessile glands, green to pink; bracteoles absent. Calyx 3(4)-lobed, 1.0-2.0 x 0.5-1.1 mm, narrowly cyathiform to broadly obconical, 4-lobed calyces equifacial and obtuse-angular, 3-lobed calyces inequifacial with abaxial lobe as broad as the 2 adaxial lobes together, lateral angles very acute and adaxial angle usually obtuse, the faces opposite the lobes grooved or ± flat with or without a central ridge, usually transparent whitish central portion with edges thickened pinkish sometimes with green edges, glabrous or hirsute, the angles glabrous or hirsute, sulcus apical medium to almost non-existent and reduced to a puberulous patch. Corolla 3(4)-lobed, 2.0-5.0 x 0.5-1.8 mm, tubular with the basal third constricted to tubular funnel-shaped, sometimes 3 times to just longer than the calyx, glabrous and smooth or minutely to distinctly colliculate, rarely sparsely pilose, pink to pale cream; lobes erect, about 0.3 mm long, broadly deltoid sometimes subacute, entire. Stamens 3 with 3-lobed corollas, 4 with 4-lobed corollas, free, exserted; filaments linear, straight, glabrous; anthers basifixed, subpartite to bipartite, cuneate, muticous, dark brown to yellow; thecae erect to spreading, oblong-oblanceolate, 1.0-1.5 x 0.1-0.15 mm, usually smooth with aculeate edges; pore 1/4-1/3 the length of theca; pollen in monads. Ovary 1(2)-locular, 0.5 x 0.2 mm, narrowly ovoid to ellipsoid, acute, glabrous, with well-developed basal nectaries; ovules 1 per locule, pendulous, placenta apical; style up to 5 mm long, exserted beyond anthers, glabrous; stigma simple truncate, very rarely minutely peltate. Fruit indehiscent, 0.8 x 0.4 mm, ellipsoid; pericarp very thin and semi-transparent, with many crystals; seeds ellipsoid, testa very thin adhering to pericarp, cells elongate with jigsawed anticlinal walls, no pits.