The distinction between E. tetralix and the related species Erica cinerea is that the linear leaves are usually glandular and in whorls of four, while in E. cinerea they are glabrous and borne in whorls of three.
The larvae feed on the flowers of a wide range of plants, including Achillea, Scabiosa, Solidago, Senecio and Erica tetralix.
Species found on the heath include Cross Leaved Heather Erica tetralix, Bell Heather Erica cinerea and Ling.
Erica | Erica tetralix | Erica cinerea | Being Erica | Erica, Victoria | Erica Gimpel | Erica Ehm | Sprig of ''Erica | Erica Yuen | Erica Terpstra | Erica Shaffer | Erica Roe | Erica Payne | Erica Figueroa | Erica Enders | Erica Burman | Erica Brown | Erica Azim | Erica Ash | A sprig of ''Erica |
The sand dunes are of various stages of evolution and contain marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), red fescue, (Festuca rubra), crowberry, (Empetrum nigrum), the cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix), common sedge, (Carex nigra), marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) and the invasive creeping willow (Salix repens ssp. argentea).