Erica karwyderi E.G.H.Oliv.

Compact erect virgate shrub to 500 mm tall, single-stemmed reseeder. Branches, a few main erect branches terminating in an inflorescence, with numerous short 0.2 mm long lateral flowering branchlets, puberulous with hairs slightly recurved, bark white, flaking irregularly. Leaves 3-nate, subspreading, 5 x 1 mm, oblong subobtuse, rounded abaxially, flattened adaxially, glabrous, the younger ciliate, narrowly sulcate; petiole 0.5 mm long, adpressed, ciliate. Inflorescence. flowers 3-nate in 1 whorl, terminal on main branches and on short lateral branchlets crowded into semi-dense spikelike synflorescences; pedicel 0.3 mm long, pubescent; bract partially recaulescent, approximate to calyx, 0.5-0.8 x 0.3 mm, ovate bracteose, pubescent, minutely sulcate; bracteoles 2, approximate, 0.5 x 0.3 mm, otherwise like the bract. Calyx 4-lobed, 2.0 x 1.6 mm, ovoid, quadrangular, the sharp ridges alternating with the lobes, cartilaginous due to lignified cells, pubescent, green to red; lobes 1/3, length of calyx, triangular with rounded apices, broadly sulcate for 1/5 of calyx, hairs unicellular and multicellular, uniseriate. Corolla 4-lobed, 4.5 x 1.8 mm, tubular tapering to the base, 4-obtuse-angled, colliculate, bright pink; lobes erect, broadly rounded, 1/10 length of corolla. Stamens 8, free, exserted; filaments 5 mm long, elongate-linear, straight, pale coloured; anthers dorsally attached near base, narrowly oblong, muticous; thecae slightly divergent, 1.2 mm long, oblong, aculeate and with short spiny protuberances on edges, red-brown; pore small 1/6 length of theca; pollen in monads. Ovary 2-locular, 0.8 mm long, ovoid, subacute, 2-lobed and laterally flattened, glabrous, with large basal nectaries; ovules 1 per locule, pendulous, placenta apical; style exserted, 1.5x the length of corolla, glabrous; stigma simple, truncate. Fruit indehiscent, up to 2x the length of ovary; pericarp very thin and papery, crystals present; seeds ellipsoid, testa very thin, ruminate, cells elongate with undulate anticlinal walls, with fine pits.