Erica margaritacea, the pearl heath, is a species of Erica that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town.

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Erica margaritacea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Erica
Species:	E. margaritacea
Binomial name
Erica margaritacea Sol.

Historically, this Erica grew naturally in the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos of the Southern Suburbs, Cape Town. However, urban development caused it to go extinct in the wild. Specimens that were preserved by Botanists were used to reintroduce this species to the last remaining patch of its habitat, the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area.

It produces enormous amounts of white, pearl-shaped flowers and can readily be cultivated in urban gardens.[1]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erica margaritacea.

References