. ferved. ~. 
es [ 471 ] 3 
Erica MEDITERRANEA. MepirgRRANEAN 
: HEATH. | 3 
(eee ssid testa aa 
Clafs and Order. 
OcTaNvDrRia Monocynia.- 
Generic Charaéer. 
Cal. 4-phyllus. Cor. 4-fida. Filamenta receptaculo inferta. 
Anthere apice 2-fide pertufe. Cup/. 4-locularis, 4-valvis, 
polyfperma, _ : 
Specific CharaGer and Synonyms. 
ERICA mediterranea antheris muticis exfertis, corollis ovatis, 
ftylo exferto, foliis quaternis patentibus, floribus © 
fparfis. Linn. Syft. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 370. Ait. 
Kew. v. 2. p. 24. Linn, Mant. p. 229. 
ERICA maxima purpurafcenslongioribusfoliis. Baub. Pin. 485.5 
ERICA /foliis corios quaternis, flore purpurafcente. Baub, bil. 
Ep: BEG. ; 
ERICA corios folio. 11. Cluf. biff. 1. p. 42. 
__ Though a native of the more fouthern parts of Europe, 
this fpecies of Heath was unknown in our gardens till intro- 
duced by Mr. Brooxs*, fo lately as about 1765; now it 
_ 1s one of the moft common, and will long continue to be 
one of the moft defirable ; in a few years it acquires the height 
of four or fix feet, is very upright and handfome in its growth, 
and from March to May its branches are loaded with a profu- 
fion of lively bloffoms. =< | 
In our account of Erica herbacea, page 11, we exprefled 
fome doubts whether it and the mediterranea might not be one 
and the fame fpecies, as they accorded in many refpeéts; from 
examining them more attentively, we are fatisfied that they 
are perfettly diftin@: the berbacea, if left to itfelf, is low and 
{fpreading, the mediterranea tall and upright; the flowers in the — 
mediterranea are fhorter and more ovate, and have a degree 
of fragrance wanting in thofe of the herbacea ; the filamentsdo 
not projeét fo far, but the ftyle farther ; the berbacea blooms 
_ at leaft a month earlier than the. mediterranea ; tothefe dif- 
ferences we may add, that the berbacea is perfeétly hardy, 
while the mediterranea is liable to be killed in fevere feafons, 
and is therefore ufually kept in the greenhoufe. Sees 
_ This fpecies is eafily ftruck from cuttings and eafily pre- 
* Hort. Kew. 
