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]]