Erica 326115 224432238 2008-07-08T20:37:07Z Bobo192 97951 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/98.18.64.230|98.18.64.230]] ([[User talk:98.18.64.230|talk]]) to last version by Useight {{alternateuses}} {{Taxobox | name = ''Erica'' | image = Erica herbacea0.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = ''[[Erica carnea]]'' in flower | regnum = [[Plantae]] | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Ericales]] | familia = [[Ericaceae]] | genus = '''''Erica''''' | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Over 700 species, including:<br /> ''[[Erica arborea]]''<br /> ''[[Erica caffra]]''<br /> ''[[Erica carnea]]''<br /> ''[[Erica ciliaris]]''<br /> ''[[Erica cinerea]]''<br /> ''[[Erica erigena]]''<br /> ''[[Erica lusitanica]]''<br> ''[[Erica mackaiana]]''<br /> ''[[Erica plukenetii]]''<br /> ''[[Erica scoparia]]''<br /> ''[[Erica tetralix]]''<br /> ''[[Erica vagans]]'' }} '''''Erica''''' is a [[genus]] of over 700 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Ericaceae]]; two English common names, both shared with some other closely related plants, are '''heath''' and '''heather''' (the latter more properly refers to ''[[Calluna]]''). Most of the species are small [[shrub]]s from 0.2-1.5 m high, though some are taller; the tallest are ''E. arborea'' ([[Tree heath|Tree Heath]]) and ''E. scoparia'' (Besom Heath), both of which can reach up to 6-7 m tall. All are [[evergreen]], with minute needle-like [[leaf|leaves]] 2-15 mm long. Flowers are sometimes axillary, and sometimes in terminal umbels or spikes. They are usually outward or downward facing. Flowers are borne in mass, and the plants are grown as [[landscape]] or [[garden]] plants for their floral effect. Approximately 600 of the species are [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] in [[South Africa]], and are often called the Cape Heaths. The remaining 70 or so species are native to other parts of [[Africa]], the [[Mediterranean region]], and [[Europe]]. The closely related genus ''[[Calluna]]'' is sometimes confused with the true ''Erica'' species; it differs in even smaller scale leaves less than 2-3 mm long, and the flower corolla being more divided into separate petals. Plants of this genus are eaten by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Emperor Moth]], [[Garden tiger moth]], [[True Lover's Knot]], [[Wormwood Pug]] and the ''[[Coleophora]]'' case-bearers ''C. juncicolella'' and ''C. pyrrhulipennella''. ==See also== *[[Heath (habitat)]] <gallery perrow="2"> Image:Erica arborea.jpg|<center>''[[Erica arborea]]''</center> Image:Erica cinerea.jpg|<center>''[[Erica cinerea]]''</center> Image:Erica plukenetii.jpg|<center>''[[Erica plukenetii]]''</center> Image:Erica junonia00.jpg|<center>''[[Erica junonia]]''</center> </gallery> {{Commons|Erica}} [[Category:Ericaceae]] [[ca:Bruc]] [[cy:Grug]] [[da:Lyng]] [[de:Heidekraut]] [[es:Erica]] [[eo:Eriko]] [[fr:Erica]] [[it:Erica]] [[he:אברש]] [[ka:მანანა (გვარი)]] [[lt:Erika]] [[nl:Dophei]] [[nds-nl:Dopheed]] [[ja:エリカ属]] [[no:Erica (planteslekt)]] [[pl:Wrzosiec]] [[pt:Erica (género)]] [[vec:Freža]] [[zh:歐石楠]]