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

Compact erect to semi-spreading shrublet up to 300 mm tall, single-stemmed reseeder. Branches: numerous erect to spreading main branches with a few short lateral flowering branchlets 3-15 mm long, hirsute with spreading hairs, no infrafoliar ridges. Leaves 4-nate, erect incurved to spreading, as long as internodes, 3.0-4.0 x 0.8 mm, lanceolate to oblong, apex obtuse, adaxially rounded to flat, abaxially rounded and narrowly sulcate, margins subacute to obtuse, sparsely hirsute to glabrous; petiole adpressed, 0.8 mm long, glabrous, ciliate. Inflorescence: flowers 4-nate in 2 or 3 whorls, upper whorls umbel-like and the lowest with an internode or all umbel-like, terminal on main branches and secondary branchlets; pedicel 0.3 mm long, glabrous, green to reddish; bract recaulescent, from middle to approximate position, 1.0-2.0 x 0.5 mm, lanceolate to oblong, narrowly sulcate for 1/2-2/3 its length, green, sparsely hirsute; bracteoles 0(-2), when present associated with the lowest whorl, very small, 0.2 mm long, linear, acute, ciliolate, white. Calyx 4-lobed, 0.6-1.2 x 1.4 mm, cyathiform, in longer tubed condition the tube distinctly acute-angular alternating with the lobes, glabrous to sparsely hirsute; lobes 2/3-1/3 the length of calyx, oblong to ovate, apex subacute, sulcus subopen for 1/2-1/3 the length of calyx, adaxial surface with sessile glands in one to several rows towards the margins, glands sticky or not, green, ciliate. Corolla 4-lobed, 3.0-4.0 x 1.5-2.0 mm, narrowly ovoid, 4-angled at base, the angles alternating with calyx lobes, smooth to slightly colliculate, viscid or not, pink becoming maroon-red to red-brown, thick, hard and tough with age; lobes erect, 0.4 x 0.4 mm, obtuse to subacute, entire. Stamens 4, free, manifest to exserted; filaments about as long as corolla, linear, considerably widened just below the anther, straight, glabrous; anthers subbasifixed, spurred rarely muticous, dark brown to yellowish; thecae erect, adpressed, 1.2-2.0 x 0.2 mm, oblong, with lateral narrow wings joining the filament, with long stiff often curled hairs at apex and abaxially, occasionally with shorter hairs between the thecae, spurs as short protruberances, 0.1-0.2 mm long, arising at joint of wings and broadened filament apex; pore about 1/3 of theca; pollen in monads. Ovary 2(3)-locular, 0.7 x 0.5 mm, ellipsoid, flattened, apex obtuse, glabrous, smooth becoming undulate or verrucose, with or without a short stipe, nectaries well developed or absent; ovules 1 per locule, pendulous, placenta apical; style exserted up to 2x length of the corolla, terete, straight, glabrous; stigma simple truncate to slightly cyathiform. Fruit indehiscent, occasionally partially dehiscent, broadly elliptic to ovate, with or without a distinct stipe, obtuse or cordate at base; pericarp smooth or very rugose, dark red, slightly thickened, mesocarp thickish red, the endocarp 2-layered slightly thickened; seeds ellipsoid, testa thin, yellow, cells elongate with jigsawed anticlinal walls, with a few pits.