ERICACE^. 43 



specimens from the Gironde, by the plant being less like a minia- 

 ture tree in its growth, by the corolla being a little shorter and 

 wider, the calyx-segments broader at the base and more acuminate 

 towards the apex, the anthers considerably shorter and not wholly 

 exserted, the style much less exserted when in flower. The flow- 

 ering does not take place in the Irish plant till three or four months 

 later than in the French plant, from which, however, it is no doubt 

 distinct only as a sub-species. Mr. Bentham unites both these plants 

 with E. carnea, which has weak decumbent diffusely branched stems, 

 flowers more slender and appearing earlier than in either of the 

 forms of E. mediterranea, anthers and style still more exserted, and 

 which is a much hardier plant, withstanding the extreme cold of 

 winter throughout the whole of Britain, while even in Surrey 

 E. mediterranea perishes in a severe winter. 



Irish Heath. 



GENUS FZZ/.— CALLUNA. Salisb. 



Calyx free from the ovary, 4-partite, subcoriaceous, coloured, 

 petaloid. Corolla monopetalous, persistent and withering, funnel- 

 shaped, campanulate, 4-partite, much shorter than the calyx. Sta- 

 mens 8 ; filaments free, dilated ; anthers with 2 awns at the base, 

 opening by 2 chinks at the apex. Eruit a capsule, with 4 cells 

 opening septicidally by 4 valves breaking away from the central 

 column, to which the whole of each dissepiment remains attached, 

 the valves separating at the dissepiments, but not carrying any 

 portion of these with them. Seeds few in each cell. 



A heath-like shrub, with small opposite 4-fariously imbricated 

 leaves ; and axillary flowers disposed in racemes, with the calyx 

 white or pink, with 4 green or subscarious bracts at the base. 



The name of this genus of plants is derived from KnXXvi'w (kalluno), I cleanse or 

 adorn, which Sir J. E. Smith observes is doubly suitable, whether we take it to express 

 a cleansing property, brooms being made of ling, or whether we adopt the common 

 sense of the word, to ornament or adorn, which is very applicable to the flowers. 



SPECIES I.-CALLUNA VULGARIS. Salish. 



Plate DCCCXCIV: 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MCLXII. 



Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 146. 



Erica vulgaris, Linn. Sm. Eng. Bot. No. 1013. Benth. Handbook Brit. Fl. p. 347. 



The only species. 



Var. a, glabrata. 



Stems pubescent. Leaves glabrous, or merely shortly ciliated. 



