Erica curviflora

The erect Erica curviflora shrub with its hairy branches grows to 1,6 m. The narrow, dark green leaves ascend, spread or are incurved; lanceolate to linear in shape and overlapping. They are sometimes hairy. The flowers are mainly solitary at stem tips. The sepals are coloured similarly to the corolla, different from the tiny, leaf-like green bracts positioned over them. The tubular corolla reaches lengths varying from 2 cm to 3,8 cm. It may be pubescent or glabrous, i.e. hairy or not.

The curve of the flowers of E. curviflora that can be observed here is usually a necessary, but not a sufficient characteristic for identifying this plant. Plants with straight flowers are occasionally seen, many other Erica species also have curved flowers.

Neither is the colour on the two-toned yellow and pink corolla distinctive. Other Erica species have similar colours while E. curviflora may also be red or orange. The plant is usually found near water, its presence even regarded as an indicator of moisture, but many ericas live near water.

The plants distribution is along the mountain ranges from Vanrhynsdorp to Grahamstown, the broad, southern coastal strip that is home to hundreds of Erica species (Baker and Oliver, 1967).