Erica halicacaba L.

Rigid, erect and densely bushy shrub, sometimes procumbent or adpressed to the rocks up to 2 m (6 1/2 ft) in height. Branches numerous, woody, brittle, densely leafy or with prominent scars from the old leaf-cushions, puberulous. Leaves 3-nate, 0.8-1.4 cm long, very closely set, broad-linear, spreading or recurved, sulcate, round-backed, glabrous. Flowers 1-to 3-nate, terminal, calycine, cernuous; peduncles 4-6 mm long, puberulous; bracts approximate about 6 mm long, ovate-acuminate, keeled, scarious. Sepals like the bracts but much larger and more adpressed, 8-10 mm long. Corolla 1.6-2.2 cm long, ovoid, inflated, 4-grooved, dry, glabrous, pale greenish-yellow soon turning brown; lobes upright, about equal to the corolla tube, tapering, obtuse. Filaments broad, dilated and thickened above; anthers included, 2.5-3.5 mm long, attached laterally at the base, oblong, acute, appendiculate or muticous; pore 2/3 the length of the cell; awns spreading, 1/8-1/3 the length of the cell. Ovary depressed-globose, glabrous; style included; stigma subsimple.