Erica umbellata

Appearance

Shrubs or, exceptionally, trees, from 15 cm to 1m high, with some twisted branches. Leaves in whorls of 3, hairless, linear, needle-like and with tousled margin almost completely hiding the undersides. Ovoid terminal inflorescences with 3-6 flowers, narrower at the end. Sepals oval shortly ciliates. without appendages protruding anthers stamens. Young stems sometimes with prominent ribs that start from the base of the leaves.

Naming

Erica: generic name derives from the ancient Greek ereíkē (Erike); Latinized erice, -that f. and erica = "Heather" in general, both the genus Erica L. as Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, called "brecina".

Umbellata: Latin epithet meaning "with umbel"

Synonyms:

Erica lentiformis Salisb.
Erica umbellata f. albiflora D. McClintock
Ericodes umbellatum (L.) Kuntze
Gypsocallis umbellata (L.) D. Don

Distribution

It grows in the western half of the Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa.

Status

In terms of naturalness is native to the aforementioned region.
Not protected by Portuguese law or the European Community.

Habitat

About impoverished and emaciated siliceous land, often sandy, and something wet and mild climate.
From the sands and subcostal dunes, to over 1,300 m altitude.

Reproduction

It blooms in spring and summer.