THE ALPINE FLORA 



Ericaceae 



Shrubs or sub-shrubs with abundant leaves; leaves 

 simple, alternate, opposite or in whorls, small, almost 

 always evergreen ; flowers regular or nearly so ; calyx 

 persistent, 4-5-fid ; corolla monopetalous, 4-5-lobed or 

 toothed ; stamens 5, 8 or 10, with 2 tubular tips ; style i , 

 filiform. 



Erica 



Eng. : Heath ; Fr. : Bruyere ; Ger. : Hcide. 



The rock garden is an ideal position for Heaths, which 

 are as accommodating as they are charming. Given very 

 sandy well-drained peat they will look after themselves, 

 but a certain amount of moisture is necessary and there- 

 fore a level position is best. As with all plants of this 

 order seedlings are very slow in reaching maturity. 

 Switzerland is not rich in this genus, but a Swiss Heath, 

 E. carnea, is one of the parents of a magnificent hybrid, 

 E. hybrida, which every one should possess for the sake 

 of a January sheet of bloom. 



E. cinerea *, in various shades, is also most desirable. 

 Characteristics are a calyx with five coloured divisions ; 

 a tubular, four-cleft corolla, and eight stamens. 



Switzerland has two Heaths ; one, "Erica or Calluna 

 vulgaris* (Ling), is the small, tufted shrub which is our 

 most beautiful autumn mountain ornament. Branches 

 many ; leaves minute, evergreen ; calyx membranous, 

 persistent; inflorescence pink, spiked. July-August. 



