Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Ericales - Family: Ericaceae
Similar to Tree Heath, Erica arborea, Portuguese Heath has paler green leaves and larger flowers.
A member of the Ericaceae family, Portuguese Heath occurs on damp heaths, in open woodland and on woodland edges in both Spain and Portugal.
The flowers of Erica lusitanica, sometimes white and sometimes tinged with pink, are highly perfumed and attract honey-bees and many other insects, too. It flowers from late February until May.
The plants shown on this page were photographed in the Algarve region of Portugal in late February.
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