Erica inaequalis (Klotzsch) E.G.H.Oliv.

Semi-prostrate to erect dense shrublets up to 400 mm tall, single-stemmed reseeder. Branches: numerous spreading to erect main branches continuing growth with numerous short secondary flowering branchlets 2-10 mm long, canescent, hairs spreading to retrorse. Leaves 3-nate, erect, usually as long as internodes, to mostly semi-spreading, 2.5-3.5 x 0.7 mm, ovate-lanceolate to oblong, adaxial surface flat, abaxial surface rounded and narrow-sulcate, glabrous or finely puberulous, margins acute-angled and ciliate sometimes with plumose to stellate hairs or with short-stalked glands; petiole adpressed, 0.4 mm long, glabrous or puberulous. Inflorescence: flowers 3-nate in 1 or 2 whorls, when 2 then umbel-like, terminal mostly on short secondary branchlets; pedicel indistinct, 0.1-0.2 mm long, tapering into the calyx; bract recaulescent, approximate to calyx, 0.6 x 0.3 mm, lanceolate-ovate, apex subacute to obtuse, narrowly sulcate for '/3 its length, puberulous to glabrous, ciliolate, green tipped pink or totally pink; bracteoles 2, approximate, same as bract but slightly shorter. Calyx 4-lobed, 1.5 x 1.0 mm, enlarging in fruiting stage to 2x its size and becoming succulent, glabrous to puberulous, deep pink to dark red turning black, tube obscurely to distinctly 8-obtuse-angled, the largest angles opposite the lobes; lobes usually imbricate when young, 1/2 the length of calyx, erect sometimes spreading, deltoid-ovate to deltoid-lanceolate, subnarrowly sulcate 1/3 of the lobe, apex acute, margins ciliolate and often with short-stalked glands, mostly deep pink, occasionally green-tipped. Corolla 4-lobed, 3.0-4.0 x 1.2-2.0 mm, tubular-ovoid narrowly or broadly so, tapered at base, smooth, pink to whitish; lobes erect, 0.5 x 0.3 mm, obtuse to subacute. Stamens 4, free, exserted; filaments as long as the corolla, linear, broadening at back of anther, straight, glabrous; anthers bipartite, dorsifixed 1/4-1/3 above base, oblong, spurred or occasionally muticous, dark or golden brown; thecae erect, 1.2 x 0.2 mm, oblong, minutely aculeate edges; spurs arising laterally from point of attachment of the fdament to thecae, 0.1-0.4 mm long, linear, acute; pore 1/4 the length of theca; pollen in tetrads. Ovary 2-locular, 0.7 x 0.4 mm, oblong, apex obtuse, puberulous on upper half, with distinct basal nectaries; ovules 1 per locule, pendulous, placenta apical; style exserted, 1.5x the length of corolla, terete, straight becoming recurved when old, glabrous; stigma small mostly slightly cyathiform, occasionally subpeltate or simple truncate. Fruit indehiscent, up to 2x the length of ovary, ellipsoid, often assymetrical due to only one fertile ovule; pericarp very thin semi-transparent, with few crystals; seeds ellipsoid, testa very thin cellophane-like, cells elongate with irregularly jigsawed anticlinal walls, with no pits. Flowering time: mainly July to September.