SUMMARYThe characters that distinguish the two species ofEricasect.CallicodonBenth. are discussed and it is shown that they can be distinguished by the degree to which the anthers are exserted, by the habit, and by the degree of development of infrafoliar ridges on the young twigs, and that they have separate areas of distribution, one in southern continental Europe, the other in the Iberian peninsula, western France and western Ireland. The nomenclature of the two species is also considered and it is shown that the correct name for the former species isErica herbaceaL., notE. carneaL., and the correct name for the latter species isE. hibernica(Hook.&Am.) Syme, notE. mediterraneaL. It is also shown that the nameE. viridi‐purpureaL. cannot be applied to a South African heather and that the correct name for the species currently so called isE. mauritanica