Sometimes we don't usually think about nature's effectiveness in allowing vegetation to grow in areas where it is not suitable for plant life. However, it has been more than proven that a plant can grow in incredible places and in areas where we least expect it.
La erica andevalensis would be a An example of this, since it is one of the plants that manage to grow in arid areas where the temperature is very high and the soil is completely dry. How do they do that? Well these species they have their own methods of obtaining water and stay alive for a long time.
General data of the erica andevalensis
And just as there are these desert plants capable of surviving in that environment, today we want to present a species, which it is endemic that the province of Huelva. Throughout this article, you will understand the introduction we have made and many other interesting facts.
La erica andevalensis It is one of the many endemic heather in the mining area that is found in the province of Huelva, as we have already mentioned. It is known as heather of the mines by the location and the area where it usually grows.
Sadly It is a plant that is on the red list of the vascular flora of Andalusia. And in case you don't know what we mean by it, it is a species which is in danger of extinction. The reasons for this is the incessant human activity that affects its natural habitat.
To be more specific regarding the province of Huelva, we must mention that in this area there is great acidity in the soil, as well as very heavy metals in the substrate, so it is very difficult for a plant to grow there.
Yet somehow, the Heather from the mines has managed to adapt to the soil conditions and it is easier for her to grow in conditions like this than in soil rich in nutrients or with a neutral or low acidity level.
To date, studies are being used on how it is possible that this plant can grow there, since it is quite difficult due to the conditions and because it is an endangered species. But thanks to the results of some studies carried out, it can be said with complete certainty that the plant has developed some kind of mechanism that allows you to tolerate the conditions in this area.
In such a way that instead of absorb nutrients like an ordinary plantWhat it does is select the metals that it is going to assimilate and accumulate in itself, so that those metals that are not of its benefit are put aside.
But what very few people know is that this species is considered as an endemic edapho. This means that it is a plant that only grows and develops under particular physical-chemical conditions. Currently it is a species that is widely distributed, which It can be located in areas where mining activity is high, such as Nerva and Riotinto.
Features
The truth is that it's about a fairly small and simple plant, only that it stands out in the field where it is established thanks to the color of its flowers.
Size
It is a plant with shrubby characteristics, which can measure up to 1.5 meters in height. The branching of this species is dense and ascending, the leaves of the erica andevalensis do not exceed 5 mm in length and they are composed in 4 whorls.
Leaves
Only that the leaves in the whole plant are not the same, because in the upper part, the blades meet in a linear manner and with a completely revolutionary distribution. On the other hand, the lower leaves tend to have a more oval appearance and have a truncated base. The normal thing is that the underside can be seen with the naked eye.
Thanks to some studies carried out previously, it was possible to reach the conclusion that the erica andevalensis es a species that is completely self-compatible, but that it cannot be self-pollinated. In fact, carried out studies both in natural conditions and in greenhouses and the results were the same.
Flowers
Now, with respect to flowers of this plantIt should be mentioned that they last a long time, but they do not have as much nectar as other flowers. That is why there is not a high pollination rate and that this only depends on the nearby populations.
Seeds
Although it may not seem like it, this plant has the ability to create seeds that can be used for multiplication. Except that when subjected to certain conditions, they break in a massive way. In principle it is due to the cold and humidity that is generated in winter times.
Similarly, if you want to work with the seeds of this plant, that you know that these have a germination rate of only 21% maximum, as long as no treatment is provided. This can change completely with the time of treating them, because the germination rate is around 90%.
It must be said that it is a bit difficult to find information about this plant, due to the conditions where it lives and other aspects. However, here you go everything you need to know in general about the erica andevalensis.