As plant names go, few can be as tautological as Erica ericoides. This name means the “heath that looks like a heath”; hardly the most enlightening of descriptions. The reason for this lack of imagination is because at one time the large Cape genus Erica was subdivided into many smaller…
The Green Heath, Erica sessiliflora, is one of the unmistakable heathers of the fynbos. With over 600 species of Erica in the fynbos of the Cape Floristic Region it is not surprising to find that each species will share at least some characters in common with other species. Erica sessiliflora…
Erica banksii is one of the iconic ericas of the mountains of the south-western Overberg, including the Klein River Mountains. It is an unmistakable species. The flowers occur in bunches of 3 at the end of short branches. The corolla is a straight white tube. The white filaments of the…
The beauty of the Cape heaths is one of the most notable attractions of the fynbos. Several species have large tubular flowers; many others produce numerous flowers that cover the plant. But not all Cape heaths produce such an eye-catching display. Brightly coloured flowers are usually adapted for animal pollinators,…
The genus Crassula contains a diverse range of succulent plants. They are sometimes known in South Africa as stonecrops but that common name is usually used for the related genus Sedum. Here at Phillipskop we have a Crassula that supposedly looks like an Erica; at least that is what its…
Erica discolor has started to bloom around Phillipskop. It is easy to spot but has a rather misleading scientific name. To discolor in English means to change the colour of an object, usually to one that is less attractive than the original. Once you have seen the plant, I do…
