Erica arborea L.

Spice Detail In the field

Family: ERICACEAE

Genus: Erica

Catalan common name: Bruc. Bruc boal. Bruc de pipes. Bruc de soca. Bruc mascle.

Spanish common name: Brezo. Brezo blanco.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Tree heather maquis and silicolous garigues. Pine woodlands and garriques.

Characteristics: Tree heath is a bush which can grow up to three metres in height; it has small, dark green leaves (like small needles) in groups of three. The flowers bloom at the beginning of spring; they are creamy-white in colour and can be so abundant that they give the plant and even the garrigue (Mediterranean woodland) this colouring. In Menorca this species can be mistaken for the female broom heath (Erica scoparia). They can be distinguished by the flowers, which in tree heath are whiter and are grouped in a more compact way; besides, the tips of the branches have hairs on the stalk, whereas Erica scoparia does not have hairs on its branches. Erica multiflora can be well distinguished by its flowering in autumn and its pinkish flowers. Tree heaths live in soils without carbonates.