Erica scoparia L. subsp. scoparia

Spice In the field 1 Inflorescence

Family: ERICACEAE

Genus: Erica

Catalan common name: Bruc d'escombres. Bruc femella.

Spanish common name: Berozo. Brezo blanquillo. Brezo de escobas. Grecina.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. València.

Distribution in the islands: Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Tree heather maquis and silicolous garigues. Garriques.

Characteristics: The female heath is a shrub which may reach three metres in height, with small, whitish-green, linear leaves. The flowers are small and yellowish-green, more or less dispersed on the top branches; it flowers just at the beginning of spring. In the Balearics it lives exclusively in the siliceous soils of the Tramuntana of Menorca. It can be found in the same habitats as Erica arborea(male heath), but it can be distinguished because the latter produces white flowers, all of which are grouped at the top of the branches, moreover the young stems are covered in hair whereas in the female heath they are without hair.