Erica carnea

Erica carnea L. (syn.: E. herbacea L.) (Alps, SC-Eur.) – A very rare escape from cultivation. Probably locally persisting for some time but never naturalising. Most recently recorded in a ditch in Momignies in 2011 (see also: http://waarnemingen.be/waarneming/view/56795642). In the past also collected near Ieper (Hoogte) in 1944.

Erica carnea is a common garden plant in Belgium but records in the wild seem to be very scarce. It is possibly neglected or overlooked. However, it is more likely that it only spreads vegetatively and records of “escapes” apparently refer to relics of cultivation or garden throw-outs.

This species is still frequently referred to as Erica herbacea. However, the latter is a rejected synonym (nom. rejic.).

At least part of the plants in cultivation (and in the wild?) are of hybrid origin, Erica xdarleyensis Bean (E. carnea x E. erigena R. Ross). This taxon is less rare as an escape in the British Isles than Erica carnea (Stace 2010).

Herbarium specimen

Erica carnea, Momignies, ditch, April 2011, P. Wuine Erica carnea, Momignies, ditch, April 2011, P. Wuine

 


Selected references:

Brickell C.D. & McClintock D. (1987) (876) Proposal to conserve Erica carnea L. against E. herbacea L. (Ericaceae). Taxon 36(2): 479-481.

Charpin A. & Salanon R. (1972) L'aire de répartition de la bruyère des neiges (Erica herbacea L. = E. carnea L.) dans la partie française de l'arc alpin. Candollea 27(2): 229-247.

Stace C. (2010) New flora of the British Isles, 3th ed.: XXXII + 1232 p. Cambridge University Press.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith