67 



HEATH. ERICA. 



CROSS-LEAVED HEATH. Erica tetralix. 



Plate 4, fig. 17. 

 Leaves four in a whirl. Flowers in round heads. 



This is the most delicate of the English Heaths, but not the 

 most abundant, though it is yet pretty frequent on moors and 

 commons, along with the other kinds. Its roots are long, its 

 stems tough, its leaves dark colored, with hairs around their 

 edges, and growing four together. The anthers of the stamens 

 have two curious awns, (horns,) at the lower part of them. 

 The flowers are oval, ending in a little cross, in the centre of 

 which the style is seen ; they elegantly droop, and are collected 

 in little heads at the end of the branches. Their color is most 

 delicate. 



" Sometimes with bells like amethyst, and then 

 Paler, and shaded like a maiden's cheek 

 With gradual blushes ; other while as white 

 As rime that hangs upon the frozen spray." Mrs. G- Smith. 



FINE-LEAVED HEATH. Erica cinerea. 



Plate 4, jig. 18. 

 Leaves three in a whirl. Flowers in long heads. 



This is very common, very beautiful, and very lasting. It 

 agrees with the last in general appearance when not in flower, 

 but its leaves will even then show a difference. In the present 

 species they grow three together ; but as the young branches 

 grow among them, it often appears as if there were many 

 leaves together, The flowers are bell-shaped, drooping, in 

 scattered heads, mostly pink colored, smaller than those of the 

 last, more open at the end, and with a longer style. 



" Sweet flow'ret! from nature's indulgence thou'rt cast, 

 Thy home's on the cold heath, thy nurse is the blast. 

 No shrub spreads its branches to shelter thy form, 

 Thou'rt shook by the winds, and thou'rt beat by the storm. 

 But the bird of the moor on thy substance is fed, 

 And thou givest to the hare of the mountain a bed." J. Jones. 



All the common Heaths are evergreen, and in flower from 

 July to September or October. The wild-fowl come to this 

 for shelter and food, and the bees for the honey of its flowers. 



O. S. Mr. Mackay's Healh, Mediterranean Heath, and Flesh-colored 

 Heath, all found in Ireland only ; Cornish Heath, and Ciliated Heath, both 

 rare, and confined to the extreme south of the kingdom. 



