Erica quadrangularis
Rounded shrub to c. 1 m high and wide, young stems hispid with simple hairs. Leaves in whorls of 4 or sometimes opposite, linear, 1.5–3 mm long, c. 0.4 mm wide, margins acute, sparsely ciliate. Flowers solitary in axils of upper leaves, forming sparse to dense terminal and subterminal clusters; bracteoles 3, c. 0.5 mm long, ciliolate, appearing ± whorled; sepals c. 1 mm long, ciliolate; corolla cup-shaped, c. 3 mm long, white to pink, lobes obtuse, c. half as long as tube, erect or the tips slightly recurved; stamens included in corolla; locules of anthers fully united, c. 0.3 mm long, each with a short basal awn shorter than the locule. Fruit not seen. Flowers Sep.–Oct.
GipP, OtP, WaP, CVU, HSF. Native to South Africa. Naturalised and invading heath and heathy woodland in a few southern Victorian localities (e.g. Gellibrand, Langwarrin, Kilsyth, Mt Evelyn, The Gurdies).
This species is commonly cultivated, and some forms are thought to be products of hybridisation with the less commonly grown Erica mauritanica. These two species very similar (see note under E. mauritanica), and determination of material by global Ericaauthority E.G.H. Oliver has shown that both species are naturalised in Victoria. Hence E. mauritanica is possibly more common than previously thought, and has possibly been overlooked in Victoria (both in cultivation and naturalised) due to its similarity to E. quadrangularis.
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Ericaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 509–514. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
