468 



HEATH TRIBE. 



FIG. 171. DIAGRAM OF FLOWER OF ERICK^E. 



ties that distinguish it from all others. Of the common Heaths, 

 the general aspect is known to every one ; but there are many 

 species far surpassing these in size, and differing so much in 

 appearance, that they would not be associated with them by an 

 unpractised Botanist. The true Heaths are most abundant at 

 tue Cape of Good Hope, where immense tracts are covered with 



them, and from which 

 most of those exqui- 

 sitely-beautiful spe- 

 cies, which are che- 

 rished in our gardens 

 and green-houses, are 

 derived. Their co- 

 rolla might be likened 

 to that of Campanu- 

 lacese ; but the posi- 

 tion of it is different; for both calyx and corolla are here 

 beneath the ovarium, which is consequently superior. The 

 calyxes usually small, and is cleft at the edge by four notches, 

 which indicate that it is composed of that number of adherent 

 sepals. The corolla is a tube, sometimes swelling out into a 

 little globe, with four short teeth at the end, showing that this 

 is composed of four petals, united up to their points. Arising 

 from beneath the ovarium, and scarcely attached to the corolla, 

 there are eight stamens, whose anthers are purple, and their two 

 lobes separated towards their points like the prongs of a fork ; 

 the anther-lobes, instead of bursting in the usual manner, open 

 by pores or minute apertures at their extremities, a character 

 which is peculiar to the Heath tribe, and marks every member 

 of it. The ovary contains four cells, each including a great 

 many ovules ; it bears a single style, having a flat purple 

 stigma, with four little projections upon it. This in time 

 changes to a dry capsule that bursts by valves, scattering an 

 immense multitude of seeds almost as minute as grains of sand ; 

 and these are frequently provided with little crests or fringes, 

 which enable the wind to catch and disperse them, and are tech- 

 nically called wings. 



