Erica vernicosa E.G.H.Oliv.

Prostrate mat-forming shrublets with erect branches up to 200 mm tall, rarely erect shrublets, single-stemmed reseeder. Branches: the main branches prostrate often rooting when touching the ground, with numerous secondary erect branchlets up to 200 mm tall and tertiary branchlets 2-15 mm long, sparsely pubescent, hairs recurved, no infrafoliar ridges. Leaves 3-nate, spreading-reflexed, 1.5-4.0 x 0.5 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, ad-and abaxially rounded with no distinct edges, narrowly sulcate, obtuse, pilose to subglabrous, occasionally with sessile glands laterally; petiole adpressed 0.3 mm long, glabrous, ciliate. Inflorescence: flowers 3-nate in 1 or 2 whorls, when 2 then umbel-like, terminal on secondary and tertiary branchlets; pedicel 1-2 mm long, pubescent; bract partially recaulescent, approximate to calyx, 1.0 x 0.4 mm, lanceolate to oblong, subbroadly sulcate 2/3 its length, sparsely pilose, edged with a few sessile glands, green to reddish; bracteoles 2, approximate, somewhat smaller than bract otherwise similar. Calyx 4-lobed, 2 x 2 mm, sparsely pilose, green to red; lobes 1/2-2/3 the length of calyx, subbroadly sulcate as long as the lobe, subacute, densely covered with sessile glands adaxially. Corolla 4-lobed, 4.5 x 2.0 mm, narrowly ovoid to obovoid, glabrous, smooth, viscid; lobes erect, 0.4 mm long, broadly rounded. Stamens 4, free, exserted, erect to slightly reflexed; filaments more or less as long as corolla, much widened apically, oblong-linear, glabrous; anthers basifixed, elliptic, muticous, dark brown; thecae 1.4 x 0.3 mm, oblong subfalcate, subacute, minutely aculeate; pore about 1/2 as long as theca; pollen in monads. Ovary 2(3)[4]-locular, 0.7 x 0.8 mm, broadly ovoid, flattened, emarginate, papillate, with large nectaries around base; ovules 1 per locule, pendulous, placenta apical; style exserted, up to 2x as long as corolla, glabrous; stigma simple truncate. Fruit indehiscent, 1.2 x 1.1 mm, broadly ellipsoid, colliculate; pericarp brittle, slightly thickened, exocarp slightly thickened, mesocarp with crystals, endocarp slightly lignified; seeds ellipsoid, testa thin, cells elongate with jigsawed anticlinal walls and small pits. Flowering time: March to June or sometimes as late as September.