Plant · GBIF taxon 5333412
Cross-leaved Heath
Erica tetralixAlso known as Cross-Leaf Heath, Bog Heather
Cross-leaved heath thrives in wet acidic bogs, damp heathlands, and peatlands across western Europe. Its distinct pale pink, urn-shaped flowers cluster tightly at the tips of stems, surrounded by needle-like leaves arranged in neat whorls of four. Sticky, glandular hairs covering its flower stalks help deter crawling insects, ensuring nectar remains available for bumblebees.
EvergreenFloweringBog Plant
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Heather Beetle
- Red Deer
- Mountain Hare
ThreatsHabitat drainage, peatland degradation, nitrogen pollution
HabitatsWet heathlands, bogs, moorlands, peatlands
Life span15–30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEricaceae
- SpeciesErica tetralix
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Habitat Care: Stick to designated boardwalks or dry paths to protect fragile bog soils.
- Identification: Look for the distinct leaves arranged in whorls of four forming a cross pattern.
- Pollinator Observing: Watch for long-tongued bumblebees feeding at the bell-shaped blossoms.
Frequent Companion Herbivore 
Sympatric Relative (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Paulo Martins, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Paulo Martins · cc-by-sa
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