Five new species of <i>Erica</i> (Ericaceae) from the Swartberg Range, Western Cape, South Africa and a note on <i>E. esterhuyseniae</i>

Abstract

Descriptions are provided of five new species of Erica L. from the Klein and Groot Swartberg Mountains in Western Cape,South Africa. The two known populations of E. dolfiana E.G.H.Oliv. are confined to the stony, southern slopes of two well- separated areas. E. taylorii E.G.H.Oliv. is also known from two well-separated populations on the Swartberg but with the others in the ( ederberg. The other three new species are allied to E. esterhuyseniae Compton: E. chionodes E.G.H.Oliv., with brilliant white flowers, occurs only in seepage zones in two well-separated areas, E. oreotragus E.G.H.Oliv. (syn. E. esterhuyseniae Compton var. trimera Compton) with pale pink to white flowers and E. blaerioides E.G.H.Oliv. with white flowers, are widespread in the central and western Swartberg Range.