Tree heath - Definition and Overview

Tree Heath
Erica arborea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Genus: Erica Species: arborea
Binomial nomenclature
Erica arborea
Ref: ITIS 505949 (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=505949)

The Tree Heath is a shrub or small evergreen tree with a height of 1-4 (-7) m. The numerous small flowers are white. The Tree heath prefers acid soil. It is found mostly in the Macchie, dry evergreen shrub areas, all around the Mediterranean area, west to Portugal and the Canary Islands, and with disjunct areas in Africa including the Ethiopian Highlands, the mountains of Ruwenzori and the Cameroon mountains.

The wood is used for making smoking pipes, and is known as briar root wood.

References

• Adams, W.M., A.S. Goudie & A. R. Orme (eds.) (1996): The Physical Geography of Africa. Page 55. Oxford University Press, 1996.