Erica tetralix - Cross-leaved heath
This short heath species blooms from June
until October in upland Wales. We took this photograph on the flat moorland top of
Llanllwni Mountain, to south-east of the Teifi Valley.
The delicate flowers of cross-leaved heath are paler than those of bell
heather, but otherwise the flowers are similar in size and shape; however, whereas bell
heather prefers dry soil, cross-leaved heath thrives in damp, peat-bog areas. A
distinguishing feature is the leaf arrangement of this plant: the leaves are set in whorls
of four.
Wildflowers of Wales
Dozen of beautiful wildflowers of heath and moorland, mountains and meadows
are featured in the First Nature Guide to the
Wonderful Wildflowers of Wales, Volume 3 - Mountains, Moorland and Meadows.
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