Classification of Plants 



249 



Erica. — Calyx usually much shorter than the corolla. 

 Seeds light and very numerous. A large genus of over 400 

 species. The flowers are beautiful and of a great variety of 

 shapes and colours. 



The finest heaths are found at Riversdale and Caledon. A few are 

 found as far east as Natal. Some are sticky on the outside of the flower, 

 and so ward off ants. The stems, 

 closely beset with small leaves, 

 perform a similar service. The 

 leaves are often bordered with 

 hairs, which are always a severe 

 trial to ants. 



Eremia. — Seeds one in 

 a cell. Flowers small, bell- 

 shaped, in terminal umbels. 

 Chiefly Western. 



Stamens 4 — 



Blaeria. — Small shrubs 

 resembling Erica. Western. 



Grisebachia. — Small 

 shrubs differing from Ere??iia 

 in the number of stamens. 



Order Plumbaginace/e. 



Calyx remaining on. 

 Corolla gamopetalous. Sta- 

 mens 5, opposite the petals. 

 Ovary i - celled, superior, 

 with one ovule. Herbs or 

 half shrubs, often growing 

 near the sea. 



Plumbago. — Calyx with sticky hairs along the ribs, which 

 help to scatter the seed. Corolla tube much longer than the 

 calyx ; limb spreading. Stamens free from the petals. Herbs 

 or shrubs, often climbing, with alternate, stipulate leaves thickly 

 encrusted with lime on the under surface. The spikes of pale 

 blue flowers brighten the roadsides in the East. Often used 

 for hedges. Two species. 



Fig. 252. — Statice. 



