BEICA 



HEATH OBDEB 



ERICA 581 



4-part6d. Corolla urn-shaped, globose, 

 hypoorateriform, tubular or bell-shaped, 

 4-lobed. Stamens usually 8. Ovary 

 usually 4-celled. 



Culture and Propagation. — Only a 

 few Heaths are suitable for outdoor 

 cultivation in this country, and the 

 remarks under Calluna vulgaris above 

 may be applied to them. They mostly 

 grow in peaty soil and may be increased 

 by cuttings under bell-glasses, seeds, or 

 layers. They are equally useful and 

 ornamental on sloping banks or knolls, in 

 the lower parts of the rock garden, or 

 even in the flower border where the dwarf 

 kinds can be made to do duty as carpet 

 plants to contrast with taller ones that 

 flower at different seasons. 



E. arborea. — This graceful Heath is 

 found in a wild state in Southern Europe, 

 N. Africa, and as far south as the Canary 

 Islands, where it attains the size of a 

 fairly large tree. It produces white 

 flowers, but unfortunately is too tender 

 for general cultivation in the British 

 Islands. In the mildest parts of the 

 south and west it may be grown with a 

 fair amount of success in warm situations 

 sheltered from cold winds. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. carnea. — A compact species about 

 6 in. high, native of Germany, with smooth 

 linear leaves 3-4 in a whorl. Flowers 

 from January to April, pale red or pink, 

 in one-sided racemes. The variety alba 

 (or herhacea) has white flowers, but is not 

 quite so vigorous. Mixed with the type 

 however it looks very pretty. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. ciliaris (Dorset Heath). — A native 

 of Dorset, Cornwall, and parts of Ireland, 

 6-12 in. high, with 3 ovate ciliate leaves 

 in a whorl. Flowers from June to Sep- 

 tember, pale red, ovoid, in racemes. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. cinerea (Scotch Heather). — A pretty 

 British and Irish Heath 6-12 in. high, with 

 3 smooth linear acute leaves in a whorl. 

 Flowers from July to September, crimson- 

 purple, drooping. There are many forms, 

 such as alba, atropurpurea, atrosa/n- 

 guinea, bicolor, coooi/nea, pallida, pii/i-- 

 purea, rosea &c., with flowers varying in 

 colour according to the name, and all 

 very ornamental. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. lusitanica (E. codonodes). — A 

 charming Heath 2-6 ft. or more high. 



native of Spain and Portugal. The 

 branches are clothed with slender needle- 

 like leaves pointing upwards, and the 

 drooping cylindrical blossoms, white or 

 faintly tinged with pink, appear in great 

 profusion from January to March and 

 April according to the part of the country. 

 Culture do. as above. This fine 

 Heath is practically hardy in most parts 

 of the kingdom and flourishes in loamy as 

 well as peaty soil. If it should be cut 

 down by a severe frost, it is almost sure 

 to send up fresh shoots from the base. 



E. Mackaii. — A showy plant about 

 1 ft. high, native of Connemara, with 

 broad ovate leaves, green above, silvery 

 beneath. Flowers in July and August, 

 pale red. It is near E. TetraUx, and 

 was at one time regarded as a variety of 

 that species. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. mediterranea (E. hihernica). — Irish 

 Heath. — Found in the boggy heaths of 

 Galway and Mayo, and also in the 

 Mediterranean countries. It grows 4-5 

 ft. high. Leaves linear, usually 4 in a 

 whorl. Flowers in AprU and May, pink, 

 cylindric bell-shaped, with broad lobes, in 

 dense racemes. 



The variety hyhrida is supposed to be 

 a cross between E. mediterranea and E. 

 carnea. It bears a profusion of bright 

 pinky-purple drooping blossoms, which 

 are very hke those of E. carnea, and the 

 projecting black-anthered stamens are 

 very conspicuous. They often appear 

 before Christmas, and according to locality 

 may be found in good condition up to 

 March and April in various parts of the 

 country. It is therefore an excellent 

 variety for winter flowering and deserves 

 to be widely grown. The variety iilha is 

 also very beautiful when laden with its 

 masses of white flowers and deep brown 

 projecting stamens. It is, however, 

 dwarfer and decidedly more compact in 

 habit than hyhrida, but the two together 

 make a grand picture in sheltered nooks, 

 or on the warm sides of knolls and 

 hillocks. Like the type, it flourishes in 

 peaty soil, but wUl also grow well in 

 light sandy loam. It seeds freely, and the 

 seedlings come up naturally. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. scoparia. —A native of S. Europe 

 2-3 ft. high, with 3 leaves in a whorl. 



