Family: Ericaceae
Bell Heather Erica cinerea Flowering time: June-September. Evergreen. Can be abundant on acidic heaths and moorland in SW and W England, Wales and Scotland and in Ireland Short spikes of bright reddish-purple flowers with narrow, hairless sepals. The dark green, stalked leaves grow in whorls of 3 with the leaf margins rolled back, hiding lower surface and further tufts of leaves in axils. Foodplant for caterpillars of the Beautiful Yellow Underwing moth |
Bell Heather, Erica cinerea
Studland, Dorset. September 2012