Erica cerinthoides

Erica cerinthoides is widely described as the most well-known member of South African ericas. Since there are over 860 Erica species in southern Africa alone and 660 in the fynbos, E. cerinthoides is a very esteemed representative of a special genus of South African flowering plants. 

Unlike most ericas the erect shrub resprouts after fire from its persistent rootstock. This enhances flowering seasons while reseeders take time to regroup. This makes the common name of fire heath a significant and deserved one. If the plant does not burn it becomes woody and quite tall, up to 1,9 m. 

Why would this one be so well known? It has the widest distribution of all the South African Erica species and shows much variation in response to the challenges posed by the variable growing conditions: It is found from the Cederberg and the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape winter rainfall area, where the plants grow from nearly sea level to mountain top. It is also found in the southern Cape where heights of 1,5 m are attained. It is also widespread in summer rainfall areas such as the Eastern Cape, the KwaZulu-Natal mountains, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Soutpansberg in Limpopo, where a white flowering form occurs.

It is no wonder that the habitat population is considered of least concern early in the twenty first century. The Afrikaans colloquial name of klipheide (stone heath) relates to the plants' predilection for rocky, montane places (Manning and Helme; 2024; Manning, 2007; Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).