We haven’t featured an Erica in a while and since they are creating such a wash of colour on the Scherpheuwelberg behind the Shiraz Block at the moment this is the perfect time to feature one of the easier Erica species to identify. And the bees are going absolutely crazy for the pollen at the moment as well.
According to Erica’s by Schurmann and Kirsten (which is the only reference book one needs for this particular family) “the lateralis is a common species with a wide distribution range, growing in colonies, making a wonderful sheet of colour on the slopes where it occurs. The plant forms a stout, spreading shrub which seldom reaches more than 450 to 500 mm high and bears plumes of rosy to pink flowers. The corolla is urn shaped with a constriction at the throat, and between 4 and 13 mm long. The anthers are crested and may be included or slightly protruding.”
Lateralis means at the side in Latin, referring here to the arrangement of the flowers on the stem.
Erica’s are truly one of the most diverse in terms of the distribution and variance between species. One which keeps you on your toes, and constantly referring back to the books. Which is just one of the many reasons why I love them so much.
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