Erica multiflora
L.
Ericaceae
Erica dianthera Moench.
Erica peduncularis C.Presl
Erica purpurascens Lam.
Erica umbellifera Loisel.
Erica vagans Desf.
Ericoides multiflorum (L.) Kuntze
Gypsocallis multiflora D.Don
Common Name:
General Information
Erica multiflora is a low-growing, evergreen shrub reaching a height of 30 - 75cm[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It has been shown to be an effective antiviral in the treatment of Herpes simplex virus.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
Range
Southern Europe - Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Albania; N. Africa - Morocco to Libya
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 0.50 m |
Cultivation Details
This species is very rare in gardens, a form of Erica vagans often being made to do duty for it. These two species have been much confused by botanists, but Erica multiflora is easily distinguished by the anthers being only slightly notched at the top, whereas in Erica vagans the anther-cells are free from one another right to the base; the sepals also are longer and narrower than in Erica vagans[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The aerial parts of the plant are considered to be a urinary antiseptic, astringent and tranquillizer. They are also used in the treatment of prostate cancer[
1276- Title
- Antiviral activity of some Tunisian medicinal plants against Herpes simplex virus type 1
- Publication
- Natural Product Research, 22:1, 53 - 65, 2008
- Author
- Sassi, A. Ben, Harzallah-Skhiri, F., Bourgougnon, N. and Aou
- Website
- http:// http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786410701589790
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
A methanol extract of the plant has been shown to confer complete cell protection against the Herpes simplex-1 virus[
1276- Title
- Antiviral activity of some Tunisian medicinal plants against Herpes simplex virus type 1
- Publication
- Natural Product Research, 22:1, 53 - 65, 2008
- Author
- Sassi, A. Ben, Harzallah-Skhiri, F., Bourgougnon, N. and Aou
- Website
- http:// http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786410701589790
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]
contained tannins, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids[
1276- Title
- Antiviral activity of some Tunisian medicinal plants against Herpes simplex virus type 1
- Publication
- Natural Product Research, 22:1, 53 - 65, 2008
- Author
- Sassi, A. Ben, Harzallah-Skhiri, F., Bourgougnon, N. and Aou
- Website
- http:// http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786410701589790
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
