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polygala heisteria. heath-leaved 

 Milkwort. 



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C/vz/Sr j«i Order. 



D I A D E L P II I A O C T A N D R 1 A . 



Generic Character. 



Cat. 5-phvllus : foliolis 2 majoribus alaeformibus, ante ma- 

 turitatem fcminis coloratis. Capfula obcordata 2-locularis. 

 Semina folitaria. 



Specific Charatler and Synonyms. 



POLYGALA Heijleria floribus imberbibus latcralibus, caule 

 arborefcente,foliistriquetrismucronato-fpino{is. 

 Linn. Syfl. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. -p. 639. Ait. Kew. 

 ■v. 3. p. 6. 



SPARTIUM africanum frutefcens ericse folio. Comm. Hort. 2. 



V- 1 9'i- *- 97- 

 THYMBRA capeniis nepetee Thcophrafti foliis aculeatis florc 



parvo purpureo. Pink. Aim. 366. /. 229./. 5- 



HEISTERIA. Hort. Cliff. 352. 



After receiving various names, this plant has been finally 

 placed by Linn.eus among the Milkworts; it retains the 

 trivial name of Heijleria, inftead of the generic one previoufly 

 beftowed on it, in honour of Prof. Heister, the celebrated 

 German Surgeon. 



In Holland it appears to have been long fince known; but 

 was a ftranger here, till introduced from the Cape, by Mr. 

 Masson, in 1787. Ait. Keiv. 



In the courfe of a few years it becomes a fhrub of con- 

 siderable fize, equalling a' fmall furze bufh, to which, in its 

 habit, it bears a diflant refemblance ; and furze-leaved, in 

 our humble opinion, would have been a more expreflive name 

 than heath-leaved, which Mr. A it on has given it in accord- 

 ance with Commelin's idea. 



The purple of the flowers is brilliant in the extreme, and 

 as thofe are plentifully produced almoft the year through, it 

 has very generally obtained a place in collections of green- 

 houfe plants about London. 



It is commonly incrcafed by cuttings, but not eafily. 



