ERICACEAE 



ERICACEAE HEATH FAMILY 



Erica cinerea, L. 



Reddish-purple, almost Scotch Heather, 



white on the under side Purple Heath. 



July-August 



Erica: Greek for heath. 

 Cinerea: Latin for ashy. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil. 



THE PLANT:, erect, ten inches high or higher; the stems 

 more or less woody, without hairs. 



THE LEAVES: arranged around the stems in whorls of 

 three, with clusters of minute leaves in their axils; hairless 

 on either surface; exceedingly narrow; their edges curled 

 under. 



THE FLOWERS: "Also in whorls and either horizontal or 

 drooping; sepals four in number, green; corolla in one, 

 egg-shaped, with four short lobes around the mouth." 



THE FRUIT: capsules. 



"Found at one spot on Nantucket Island" (Britton and 

 Brown); "found slightly established in small patches on 

 Nantucket Island, Mass. (Gray's Manual). 



This is "to be distinguished from the foregoing species 

 (Erica Tetralix) by its more slender reddish-purple flowers, 

 and its smooth skin and leaves." 



The history of the Cross-leaved (Erica Tetralix) and of 

 the Bell (Erica cinerea} can be more briefly related. The 

 Cross-leaved was first discovered in 1844 among the same 

 imported Pines in which the Calluna was found. The Bell 

 was discovered in 1871 among Pine trees, where there is 

 some likelihood of its having been planted. From there 

 it has been transplanted for the sake of protection to 

 private grounds, where, at last accounts, it seemed to be 

 taking hold. 



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