( 2266 ) 

 Erica gemmifera. Gem-bearing Heath. 



A'. iV. A'. A\ A'. A". A'. .'I*. A*. A/". A y . A'. iV. A*. A/- At. A'. A'. A'. 

 7r> Vf» VT» vK & *f Vf- W CT <t? W >}> vf. •/$» 'J[f yfi ip vf. 



C/ass and Order. 



OcTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Generic Character. 



Cal. 4-phyllus. Co?\ persistens : limbo 4-fido. Anthers 

 ante anthesin per foramina duo lateralia connexae. Caps. 

 4 — 8-locularis, 4 — 8-valvis. 



Specific Character and Synonym. 



Sect. II. Longiflor^e. P. Anthers muticae. Folia qua- 

 terna. Flores axillares. Bractece, 2-calyci proximae, tertia 

 remota. 



Erica gemmifera ; ramis apice clavatis foliis ovatis ciliatis 



aristatis, tubo corollae apiee angustato. 

 Erica gemmifera. Lodd. Cab. n. 457. 



This species has a very near affinity with Erica Massoni, 

 but differs in the greater length of the flowering branches, 

 in the sterile ones being thickened instead of contracted at 

 (he extremity ; in the leaves being shorter and more erect ; 

 in the whorl consisting of fewer flowers, having the tube 

 narrowed at the extremity, not inflated as in Massoni. 



The flowers shine like a gem, being covered with a resi- 

 nous varnish, more solid, and consequently less viscous 

 than in E. Massoni. 



A native of the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers in the 

 summer months. Propagated by cuttings. Will not bear 

 over watering. Communicated by Messrs. Loddiges and 

 Sons, according to whom it was introduced in 1802. 



