Biology:Erica umbellata

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Short description: Species of plant

Erica umbellata
Erica umbellata. Queiruega.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Erica
Species:
E. umbellata
Binomial name
Erica umbellata
L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Gypsocallis umbellata Erica lentiformis
  • Salisb. Coss. ex Bourg.
  • (L.) D. Don Ericodes umbellatum
  • Erica umbellata subsp. major (L.) Kuntze
  • Erica umbellata major (Coss. ex Bourg.) P. Silva & Teles
  • D. C. Mc Clint. Erica umbellata f. albiflora

Erica umbellata is a species of plant in the heather family (Ericaceae) native to the western Iberian Peninsula and northwestern Maghreb.[1]

Description

Erica umbellata on Citânia de Briteiros

Erica umbellata is a 10 to 50 cm (3.9 to 19.7 in) bush. It has young stems with barely marked ribs and reddish-brown bark. It has terminal inflorescences, umbelliform, with 3-6 flowers, without involvement of basal bracteoles. Seeds are ellipsoidal and 0.5–0.6 mm (0.020–0.024 in) long. The corolla is 3.5–5.5 mm (0.14–0.22 in) intensely pink or purple, occasionally albino.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Erica umbellata on a siliceous soil

Erica umbellata is native to the western Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and western Spain ) and northwest Africa in Morocco. Inhabiting bare terrain, dwarf or cleared heaths, scrublands, cleared forests, pine forests and subcoastal sand, always on siliceous soils, from sea-level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) altitude. Some populations in the Algarve have very large flowers (up to 7 mm (0.28 in)) and were denominated var. major. Galician plants with graceful stems and small flowers were described as var. filiformis. Rarely some plants appear with rudimentary or aborted stamens (var. Anandra).[2][3]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q5835689 entry