Erica quadrisulcata old flowers

The golden-orange flowers of Erica quadrisulcata grow in axillary clusters near stem tips. The narrow, curved corolla tubes become from 2 cm to 3,5 cm long.

The corolla tubes have four longitudinal ridges. In this Kirstenbosch photo, the ridges are accentuated by the partial withering of the flowers as it is already April; flowering normally occurs in summer. The specific name quadrisulcata is derived from the Latin words quadratus meaning in fours (or squared) and sulcatus meaning furrowed, from sulco, to plough.

When the flower opens, the small, shallow corolla lobes flare at the tube mouth and expose the dark anthers; this is no longer in evidence here. Some of the styles are well exserted in the photo while anthers don’t protrude outside the corolla of this Erica. Narrow, leaf-like sepals are visible at the tube base (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; www.plantzafrica.com).