Erica alopecurus

Erica alopecurus gets its specific name from the tail of a fox. Alopecurus is Greek for this tail, referring to the distinguishing feature of straight and densely leafy branches, possibly also from the inflorescence racemes. The common name of foxtail heath exists. The branched, erect shrubs grow to 30 cm. Some of the plants are notably hairy, others are hairless.  Even plants growing in the same areas show this duality.

The often coarse-haired leaves grow in whorls of three, incurved and ascending, linear and up to 6 mm long.

The species distribution is widespread across the eastern parts of South Africa, occurring in all provinces barring the Western Cape and the Northern Cape, from Boschberg in the Eastern Cape along the Drakensberg, the eastern Free State and Lesotho to the Soutpansberg in Limpopo. This picture was taken near Sabie.

The habitat is streambanks and montane grassland, rocky slopes and kloofs. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).