Erica sparsa

Erica sparsa, commonly known as ker-ker, pink-smoke heath or floriferous heath and previously scientifically as E. floribunda, is an erect shrub growing from a single stem to 2 m in height. Single-stemmed shrubs do not resprout after fire. The upper stems in picture are notably pale.

According to the Erica classification of Baker and Oliver this species forms part of the Polycodon section of the Platystoma subgenus of Erica. This subgenus comprises plants with inconspicuous sepals and bell-shaped, open corollas. Polycodon species grow stem-tip flowers in groups of three, the corollas small (less than 3 mm long) and the anthers lacking awns or tails (muticous). Manning and Helme position the species among Goblet Heaths that have cup- or goblet-shape corollas, the tubes short (1 mm to 4 mm) and large cupped lobes at least as long as the tubes.

The species distribution is in the Western Cape in the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains eastwards to near Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). It is particularly abundant near George and Knysna.

The habitat is moist, sandy fynbos flats and lower slopes. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Manning and Helme, 2024; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bond and Goldblatt. 1984; Baker and Oliver, 1967; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).