Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Erica
Species: E. arborea
Binomial name: Erica arborea
Common name: Tree heath
The tree heath (Erica arborea) is a shrub or small evergreen tree with a typical height of 1-4m, with some specimens reaching 7m. The numerous small flowers are white. The tree heath prefers acid soil. It is found mostly in the Macchia, dry evergreen shrublands, all around the Mediterranean region, west to Portugal and the Canary and Madeira Islands, and with disjunct areas in Africa including the Ethiopian Highlands, the mountains of Ruwenzori and the Cameroon mountains.
The wood is used for making smoking pipes, and is known as briar root wood, bruyère, or French brier.
Located on the Te Henui walkway at Lat 39 4' 13.239" S Long 174 5' 48.492"E
