Erica sessiliflora on the Fernkloof Contour Path

Erica sessiliflora inflorescences are described as spikes, suggesting that there are no pedicels on the flowers at all. The specific name, sessiliflora, derived from the Latin word, sessio meaning sitting, the word part -ilis indicating ability or capacity and flora meaning flowers, refers to these absent or very short pedicels, rendering the inflorescence a spike.

There are tiny sepals and bracteoles behind the corollas. The slightly curved, dry (not sticky) corolla tubes are dark tipped before opening, the dark anthers a short distance inside the tube in open flowers here. The corollas are adapted for sunbird pollination.

The styles may be exserted late in flowering, by which time they may be brown.

The inside surfaces visible in the mouths of open flowers in picture are creamy yellow, the outsides generally whiter, sometimes greenish tipped (Manning and Helme, 2024; Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; Baker and Oliver, 1967; Andrew, 2017; iNaturalist).