Fig. 1

The diversification of Erica in space and time. a Time-calibrated phylogenetic tree of 478 extant lineages that populated the radiation of Erica with branches coloured according to mean net diversification rates (scale indicates species per million years) inferred using BAMM, with regions of samples indicated by the coloured bar at the terminals and clades/species referred to in the text indicated with numbers: 1 = Cape clade; 2 = E. pauciovulata; 3 = E. trimera; 4 = Afrotemperate clade; 5 = E. arborea. b Geographic distribution of Erica, based on collections databased by GBIF, showing Palearctic, Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Drakensberg and Cape regions. c Region specific speciation rates (λ) and the single extinction rate (μ). d-g Examples of the spectacular floral diversity of Cape Erica: d) E. macowanii, e) E. pulvinata, f) E. coarctata, and g) E. jasminiflora