CISTACE^E 



confused with the Broom Crowberry (Corema Conradii). 

 Moreover, it is difficult always to distinguish at a glance, 

 between this and the other barren heath, the Hudsonia 

 tomentosa. 



The ericoides, like the real heathers, grows in cushiony 

 clumps in the dry, sandy soil of the Commons or under the 

 pine-trees, but, while the ericoides is practically everywhere, 

 so that when it is in bloom, the Commons are yellow with 

 its bright flowers, the Calluna and the Ericas are very rare. 

 Further, these flowers are yellow, the others, pink or 

 purplish. The Hudsonia is to be distinguished from the 

 Corema, first, by the manner of growth; with the Hudsonia 

 there being a number of roots in a clump, with the Corema 

 only one root, hence the effect of the Corema clump being 

 crowded from the centre outward and downward. Again, 

 if the plant is in bloom, the bright yellow flowers, different 

 from the purple-brown ones, are a distinguishing feature. 

 As for the two Hudsonias, when not in bloom, the easiest 

 distinction is made on the basis of the colour of the leaves 

 the ericoides are a dark, healthy green, those of tomentosa 

 are a bluer, greyer green, and the plants usually bear more 

 signs of having been winter-killed. No better picture 

 could be made of this plant than Mr. Bicknell has painted: 

 "Few plants of Nantucket spread over the island more 

 widely or in greater abundance than this little heath-like 

 species, and not one is more conspicuous in the landscape 

 when in full bloom. Nor is there any other that at flower- 

 ing time, puts its scene in colour with quicker transforma- 

 tion, for there come seasons when it bursts into bloom on 

 all sides in the hours of a single hot morning. 



. . . After full bloom, it remains for one or two 

 weeks the season's most conspicuous flower, spreading its 

 sheets of gold along the roadways and over acres of plain 

 and hillside; a radiant sight. A few days later the flowers 

 are withered and the wide tracts that had glowed with 

 their color become brown and rusty as if seared by fire." 



226 



