Erica glandulosa subsp. fourcadei buds in different stages

Erica glandulosa subsp. fourcadei bud development may be very uneven in the same inflorescence. More than ten of them are present at this stem-tip, at different lengths and colour stages. All buds start off in their cluster or false raceme with rounded, green, later dark tips. The typical corolla curve is already present in the longer ones in picture, as are the lateral vein lines.

The hairy sepals first dominate, later relegated to short status around the long corolla tube. The sepals are fully grown early to render protective services to all the beginners, hardly noticed once the corollas reach full length. The sepal tips lying on the corolla tubes are pointed and concave on their outside surfaces. Behind the calyx there is a ring of bracteoles, shorter than the sepals and also glandular haired. 

In picture the pedicels in the inflorescence change to floral colouring before the corollas (Manning and Helme, 2024; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).