WorldFloraDB - Erica lusitanica

Characteristics

Erect shrub to c. 2 m high, occasionally with a trunk > 15 cm diam. Shoots densely covered with short hairs, especially when young; hairs simple, of varying lengths. Lvs in whorls of 3-4, subsessile, (2)-3-7 mm long; margins revolute and contiguous, entirely concealing undersurface; apparent or false margin sometimes with sparse hairs giving a serrulate appearance, otherwise lf glabrous. Fls in lateral racemes; racemes usually densely arranged so appearing as a large terminal panicle. Pedicels c. 2 mm long, recurved. Bracteoles situated near base, < 1 mm long, ± linear, whitish, not reaching calyx. Calyx 1-1.5 mm long; lobes triangular-ovate, glabrous, white, 2-3× length of tube. Corolla 3-5 mm long, tubular-campanulate, white except for rose or pink flush outside in bud, glabrous; lobes very short, very broadly ovate, erect to spreading. Stamens included; anthers c. 1 mm long, dark maroon; awns whitish, echinate, 1/2-⅔ length of anther. Style slightly exserted; stigma obconic. Capsule c. 3 mm long, broad-ellipsoid, glabrous.

More

Plants ± erect, 15-30 cm; twigs of current season green, with short, stiff hairs ca. 0.3 mm, older twigs gray and brown striped, glabrescent. Leaves in whorls of (3-)4; petiole 0.2-0.3 mm; blade linear-lanceolate, flat to compressed-triangular in cross section, 2.5-4(-7) × 0.2 mm, margins revolute, sparsely prickled, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences terminal panicles, ellipsoid, 10-25 cm. Pedicels 1-1.5 mm, shortly hairy. Flowers: calyx lobes (connate ca. 1/3 their lengths), ovate, 1 × 0.7 mm, margins entire, apex subacute, glabrous; corolla white to pinkish white, broadly campanulate, 4-5 mm, lobes ovate-deltate, 0.5-1 mm, apex broadly rounded; stamens 10; filaments 2 mm; anthers awned, ca. 0.7 mm, awns 2, basal, 2-ciliate, 0.3 mm; ovary glabrous; style 2-2.5 mm; stigma exserted, obconic. Capsules 1-2 mm, glabrous. Seeds ellipsoid, 0.6 × 0.5 mm, finely pitted.

Life form

perennial

Growth form

shrub

Growth support

free-standing

Foliage retention

evergreen

Sexuality

hermaphrodite

Pollination

entomogamy

Spread

barochory

Mature width (meter)

0.5 - 1.0

Mature height (meter)

1.5 - 2.5

Root system

-

Rooting depth (meter)

1.55

Root diameter (meter)

-

Flower color

Blooming months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruit color

-

Fruiting months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Nitrogen fixer

-

Photosynthetic pathway

c3

Environment

Light
Soil humidity
Soil texture
Soil acidity
Soil nutriment
Hardiness (USDA)

Usage

Uses	environmental use
Edible	-
Therapeutic use	-
Human toxicity	-
Animal toxicity	-

Cultivation

Can be grown by cuttings. Seeds needs stratification.

Mode	cuttings
Germination duration (days)	-
Germination temperacture (C°)	-
Germination luminosity	-
Germination treatment	stratification
Minimum temperature (C°)	-12
Optimum temperature (C°)	-
Size	-
Vigor	-
Productivity	-