284 THE HEATH FAMILY. [Erica. 



3. E. ciliaris, Linn. (fig. 639). Ciliated II. — A very handsome 

 species, readily known by its raceme of highly coloured rosy flowers, 

 of the size of those of Menziesia polifolia. It is a straggling shrub, 

 ciliated with short stiff hairs. Leaves 3 in a whorl, ovate. Flowers in 

 short pedicels in the axils of the upper leaves. Sepals small and ciliate. 

 Corolla about 5 lines long, with a small, very oblique, 4-lobed mouth. 

 Stamens enclosed in the corolla, without any appendages to the 

 anthers. 



A western species, on the Continent confined to west France, Spain, 

 and Portugal. Also found in Cornwall, and Dorsetshire. Fl. early 

 summer. 



4. E. carnea, Linn. (fig. 640). Mediterranean H. — Leaves in fours 

 or rarely in threes, linear but obtuse, firmer and thicker than in E. cinerea. 

 Flowers axillary, forming leafy racemes either terminal or below the 

 ends of the branches. Sepals linear-lanceolate and coloured. Corolla 

 narrow- ovoid, about 3 lines long, of a reddish flesh- colour. Anthers 

 protruding slightly from the mouth of the corolla, oblong, inserted by 

 their lower ends on somewhat flattened filaments, without appendages. 



The geographical range is different from that of most Heaths, being 

 scattered here and there on the lower hills along the great central 

 range of European mountains, from Switzerland to the Balkan, where 

 it is usually, but not always, a rather low, almost straggling shrub. 

 Descending to the shores of the Atlantic, it is there more erect, with 

 rather smaller flowers, a form considered by many as a distinct species, 

 E. mediterranean Linn. It reappears in boggy heaths of Mayo and 

 Galway in Ireland, in a form intermediate between the extreme Con- 

 tinental varieties. It is not wild in Great Britain, but frequently culti- 

 vated. Fl. early spring. 



5. E. vagans, Linn. (fig. 641). Cornish H. — A rather low species, 

 the leaves linear, in fours or sometimes in threes, as in E. carnea. 

 Flowers very numerous, axillary, on slender pedicels, forming terminal, 

 oblong or elongated leafy racemes. Sepals short and obtuse. Corolla 

 pink or almost white, rather small, campanulate when it first expands, 

 but becoming nearly globular. Anthers very small, appearing double, 

 protruding beyond the corolla upon slender filaments, without appen- 

 dages. 



A gregarious species, often occupying large tracts of open country 

 like E. cinerea; ranging all round the Mediterranean from Spain to 

 Greece, Turkey and Egypt, and ascending along the Atlantic to Corn- 

 wall, but never penetrating very far inland. Fl. summer, rather early. 



VIII. CALLUNA. LING. 



A much branched, low shrub, with minute, imbricating, decussate 

 leaves, and axillary small pinkish flowers, with 2 pairs of small bracts 

 at their bases. Flowers as in Erica, but the calyx is as long as the 

 corolla, which is cleft to the base into 4 segments, and the capsule opens 

 by slits opposite the partitions. Cells 1 or 2-seeded. 



1. C. vulgaris, Salisb. (fig. 642). Ling.— A. straggling shrub, 1 to 3 

 feet high. Leaves very short, a little prolonged at the base below their 

 insertion. Flowers often very pale or even white, on short pedicels 



