What kind of heather is this?

[t5247rb]

Hello,

I saw this heather in northern Portugal during the first week of October.  Doesn't quite seem to match caluna vulgaris but who am I to say?  Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Rob.

[fleurbleue]

Daboecia cantabrica perhaps...

[Maggi Young]

I think you are correct, Nicole.... the leaves seem to be alternate and not in whorls.

From   :  Journal of Ecology     Vol. 46, No. 1, Mar., 1958    Daboecia cantabrica 
A snippet found online.... of the description:

[Maggi Young]

On the subject of heaths and heathers.... a  new book is expected from the RHS....


Hardy Heathers from the Northern Hemisphere: the Genera Calluna - Daboecia - Erica    by   E. Charles Nelson

http://www.kewbooks.com/asps/ForthcomingDetails.asp?id=896

[t5247rb]

I was able to find a reference for this species located in this part of Portugal here.  http://theoeco.fc.ul.pt/publications/Proenca_2010_Acta_Oecol_Fire.pdf

So it seems plausible to me.  That would be great because it is then a new discovery for me.

But I am having trouble matching the leaves to photos of Daboecia on the web.

[t5247rb]

Here's another photo which might help to confirm things. In the other photos I'm seeing of Daboecia, the flowers seem to be on stems and tend to droop which doesn't seem to be the case with this plant.

[Maggi Young]

The leaves look to be more in groups of three there... which might constitute a sparse "whorl" 
And again there is the question of the foliage sprigs at the end of the shoots... the Dabeocia is said to have "terminal" clusters of flowers..... I'm confused... sorry! 

[Casalima]

My first thought was Daboecia, but when I looked at the picture, it didn't look like the Daboecia I see everywhere here, which tend to have relatively sparse and separated flowers, held above the leaves (unscientific recollection here ...). Whereabouts in north Portugal did you see the flowers, Rob?

[t5247rb]

The photos were taken during a hike in the Peneda Geres National Park.  I identified Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) further along down the trail.  But this looks somewhat different than Bell Heather.

[Casalima]

Maybe Erica ciliaris - Dorset Heath.
http://dias-com-arvores.blogspot.com/2011/02/urze-pestanuda.html

[Maggi Young]

Erica ciliaris seems to have the same sort of "puckered" end to the bell.......

[Will Itsell]

 Erica tetralix ? 

[t5247rb]

Erica ciliaris seems to have the same sort of "puckered" end to the bell.......

I agree Maggi that the flower looks very similar but I am just wondering about the leaves.  They don't look exactly the same in the internet photos.

[t5247rb]

I'm leaning now to Erica ciliaris after looking at this photo.  http://erick.dronnet.free.fr/belles_fleurs_de_france/erica_ciliaris.htm

Thanks for the brainpower!