Plant story - Erica margaritacea is rescued from extinction
Erica margaritacea was once found on the sandy Cape Flats from
the Cape Peninsula to Stellenbosch. Farming and urban
development have reduced the natural range of this species to a
small area (42 hectares) within the Kenilworth Race Course in
Cape Town. It is therefore categorised as Critically Endangered.
01 Jan 2010 Erica margaritacea flowers; there are pink and white
varieties (Photo: A. Hitchcock) The specific name ‘margaritacea’
is derived from the Latin meaning ‘pearl’ and refers to its
lovely pearl-like flowers. Erica margaritacea forms an erect
shrub to about 50cm tall. It has fine slender branches and small
lime-green leaves. Small pearly-white or pink, urn or cup-shaped
flowers are borne in clusters near the ends of the branches.
Flowering occurs from October to March. Seed was collected in
February 2004 and has been processed by the Cape Section of the
Millennium Seed Bank Partnership in South Africa. Some of the
seed is lodged with Kew's