Erica cinerea L.

Small shrub, sometimes very low and mat-forming, but often straggling and stems to c. 30 cm high. Shoots puberulent. Lvs usually in whorls of 3, sometimes opposite, 3–6 mm long, revolute with contiguous margins concealing lower surface, glabrous except sometimes for ciliolate apparent margin. Petioles very short. Fls in terminal racemes, sometimes appearing umbellate. Pedicels c. 3 mm long, densely puberulent. Bracteoles resembling sepals and closely overlapping them. Sepals 2–3 mm long, ovate or lanceolate-ovate, glabrous except for ciliate margin, similar in colour to corolla; apex acute. Corolla c. 6 mm long, urceolate, purple, rose, pink or occasionally white, glabrous; lobes < 1 mm long, triangular-ovate, becoming patent. Stamens included; anthers c. 1 mm long, deep purplish, with ± crested appendages. Style = or slightly exserted from corolla tube; stigma capitate. Capsule c. 1.5 mm long, ± globose, glabrous.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.