Erica abietina

Erica abietina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Erica
Species:	E. abietina
Binomial name
Erica abietina L.

Erica abietina, the honeysuckle heath, ^[1] is a species of erica that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula of the Western Cape, South Africa. ^[2] E. abietina includes four subspecies with often highly restricted distributions and distinctive flower colours. Previous delimitation of the species has included a further three subspecies ^[3] which proved to be more distantly related to Cape Peninsula endemic E. abietina subspecies and are now classified under Erica grandiflora L.f. (Erica abietina subsp. aurantiaca E.G.H.Oliv. & I.M.Oliv.; Erica abietina subsp. perfoliosa E.G.H.Oliv. & I.M.Oliv.) and Erica situshiemalis E.G.H.Oliv. & Pirie. ^[2]

Subspecies

• Erica abietina subsp. abietina (or the red heath) is restricted to the Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos on Table Mountain, Cape Town. It produces rich-red flowers and grows up to about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) in height. ^[4]
• Erica abietina subsp. atrorosea E.G.H.Oliv. & I.M.Oliv. (or the wine-red heath) is found only in the southern parts of Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos on the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town. It produces pinkish-purple flowers and grows up to about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in). ^[5]
• Erica abietina subsp. constantiana E.G.H.Oliv. & I.M.Oliv. (or the Constantiaberg heath) is restricted to the Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos in the middle of the Cape Peninsula between Constantiaberg and Chapmans Peak. It forms a small, dense shrub with bright pink flowers.
• Erica abietina subsp. diabolis E.G.H.Oliv. & I.M.Oliv. (or the devils heath) Critically endangered

This plant grows very easily and well in urban capetonian gardens and is increasingly popular as an ornamental plant. ^[6]

Gallery

• 
  Flowering specimen of E. abietina ssp. abietina
• 
  Flowering specimen of E. abietina ssp. atrorosea, in Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape, South Africa
• 
  Flowering specimen of E. abietina ssp. diabolis, in Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape, South Africa
• 
  Close up image of E. abietina, Cape area, South Africa.

See also

• Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
• Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area
• Biodiversity of Cape Town

References

1. "Honeysuckle heath - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
2. Pirie, M. D.; Oliver, E. G. H.; Gehrke, B.; Heringer, L.; Mugrabi de Kuppler, A.; Le Maitre, N. C.; Bellstedt, D. U. (2017). "Underestimated regional species diversity in the Cape Floristic Region revealed by phylogenetic analysis of the Erica abietina/E. viscaria clade (Ericaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 184 (2): 185–203. doi: 10.1093/botlinnean/box021 . ISSN   0024-4074.
3. Oliver, E. G. H.; Oliver, I. M. (2002). "The genus Erica (Ericaceae) in southern Africa: taxonomic notes 1". Bothalia. 32 (1): 37–61. doi: 10.4102/abc.v32i1.461 . ISSN   2311-9284.
4. "Erica abietina L. subsp. abietina". SANBI. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
5. "Erica abietina L. subsp. atrorosea E.G.H.Oliv. & I.M.Oliv". SANBI. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
6. "Erica abietina subsp. constantiana E.G.H.Oliv. & I.M.Oliv". SANBI. Retrieved 12 June 2017.