Flora Detail
| Common Name | Pink Flypaper Heath - Status: Rare |
| Family | Ericaceae (Heath Family) |
| Date Observed | 14-04-2023 |
| Category | Shrubs |
|---|---|
| Catalogue No. | 3542RGu |
| Flowering Time | Autumn |
| Colour | Pink to Mauve |
| Locations Observed | |
| Estuary | |
| Koppie | |
| Nature Reserve | |
| Small Holding | |
| Village | |
| Greater Rooiels | Few,Many |
Erica thomae var. porteri
Information
Pink Flypaper Heath - Status: Rare
Erica thomae var. porteri (formerly E. porteri), known as Porter's heath, is a rare, fire-adapted shrub endemic to rocky sandstone slopes in the Kogelberg area, specifically near Rooiels and Pringle Bay. It features sticky, dark reddish-pink flowers with white tips, 20–25 mm long corollas, and shorter (4–7 mm) pedicels compared to other variations.
Key Details for Erica thomae var. porteri
Appearance: A small shrub known for its sticky, tubular, dark reddish-pink flowers that have distinct white tips.
Distinctive Features: It has short pedicels (4–7 mm) and more spreading leaves (up to 90 degrees) compared to other E. thomae forms.
Distribution: Originally found as a specific population in the Buffelsrivier Valley near Pringle Bay.
Habitat: Thrives in Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos.
Conservation Status: Listed as rare within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.
Naming: Named after Harold Porter.
The species Erica thomae is often referred to as the "flypaper heath" due to its sticky flowers.
