Erica glandulosa subsp. fourcadei

Erica glandulosa subsp. fourcadei is a hardy, single-stemmed shrub reaching 1,2 m in height. There are four recognised subspecies of E. glandulosa.

The distribution of this subspecies is small but not as small as those of some of the other subspecies. A narrow coastal strip from George in the Western Cape to Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape is home to this subspecies. The photo was taken at Natures Valley.

The habitat is grassy and rocky coastal fynbos in sandstone derived soils or dune strandveld and thicket. The plants are exposed to wind and temperature variation. Some plants grow close enough to the sea for receiving salt spray. They cope with all of this and some dry seasons in a variety of soils from acid to alkaline.

The subspecies is considered vulnerable in its habitat, due to human impact in the form of forestry, agriculture, invasive exotic vegetation and the prevention of natural fynbos fires in some of the now denser thickets (Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).