!0 . ERICE.E. [Erica. 



Corolla campanulate, 4-cleft. Stamens 8. Capsules 4-celled, 

 tlie dissepiments adhering to the axis, and with 4-valves de- 

 hiscing through the dissepiments. Name from jcaXX-vi/w, to 

 cleanse or adorn, and hence peculiarly applicable, as Sir 

 James E. Smith observes, to this plant, whether we consider 

 the beauty of its flowers, or the circumstance of brooms 

 being made of its twigs. Octandria. Monogynia. 



1. C. vulaaris, Salisb. Common Ling. Br. Fl. 1. p. 177. 

 E. FL v. ii. p. 225. Erica vulaaris, Linn. E. Bot. t. 1013. 



Heaths and moor?, common ; sometimes with white flowers, Fl. 

 June Aug fy . A much branched, tufted shrub with opposite, imbri- 

 cated leaves, in four rows, varying very much in the colour of its 

 flowers, more particularly so in different parts of Scotland, probably 

 owing to the variation of the soils in which it grows. I have seen in 

 the Botanic Garden of Edinburgh eight or ten varieties, all of which 

 have been collected by the excellent curator, Mr. M'Nab. A variety 

 with double flowers is not uncommon in collections. The common 

 Ling is much used for brooms, and even for fuel where that article re 

 scarce. 



3. MENZIESIA. Smith. Menziesia. 



Calyx 4-parted. Corolla ventricose, with a spreading 4 or 5- 

 toothed limb. Stamens 8 or 10, inserted into the base of 

 the corolla. Capsule 4-celled, many-seeded, with 4 valves 

 dehiscing through the dissepiments. Name, " Nomen dedi?" 

 says the learned founder of this Genus, "in honorem Archi- 

 baldi Menzies Scotici, peregrinatoris et Botanici indefessi, 

 priscae fidei ac urbanitatis viri." 



Octandria. Monogynia. 



1. M. polifolia, Smith. Irish Menziesia, St.Dabeocs Heath. 

 Leaves ovate, revolute ; downy arid white beneath ; flowers 

 cleft, ectandrous, in terminal leafy clusters. Br. Fl. 1. p. 175. 

 E. Fl. v. ii. p. 223. Erica Dabeoci, Linn. E. Bot. t. 35. 



Frequent on dry heaths over all the wild district of Cunnamara, and 

 the mountainous parts of Mayo. Fl. July, Aug. T? . Stems twelve 

 to eighteen inches high, bushy. Leaves ovate, half an inch long, 

 shining, dark green above. Flowers large, drooping, purplish-red. 

 Corolla with four blunt angles A beautiful variety with white flowers 

 first found by J. Kenny, Esq. in the County of Mayo, about fifteen 

 years ago, has since been observed in several parts of Cunnamara, and 

 is now a favourite plant in gardens. 



4. ERICA. Linn. Heath. 



Calyx 4-parted. Corolla campanulate, often ventricose, 5- 

 toothed. Stamens 8. Capsule with from 4 to 8 cells, and 

 the same number of valves. Name from cpucw, to break; 

 because it was formerly supposed to have the power of de- 

 srtoying calculi in the bladder. Octandria, Monogynia. 



