Erica bruniades white and pink hairs

The small flowers of Erica bruniades grow in clusters of up to three on peduncles of up to 8 mm long. The bracts are spaced away from the calyx of lance-shaped sepals that are densely covered in white, pink, silvery or purple hairs. These floral hairs render the common name of kapokkie (little snow) appropriate. The calyx covers much of the corolla, apart from the apical lobes. The little hairy balls hiding the corollas resemble Brunia flowerheads and may have brought about the specific name of bruniades.

The corolla is bell-shaped and up to 4 mm long. It is dry and finely hairy or silky as well, although not as much as the calyx. The broad, shallowly lobed and rounded corolla tips, white or rose in colour, protrude beyond the woolly calyces in some of the flowers in picture. The eight dark anthers are exserted from the flower mouths, not as far as the style ending in a pinhead stigma. The anthers taper at the base and have pointed tips, bristly surfaces.

Flowering happens from end winter to midsummer (Manning and Helme, 2024; Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist).