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ERICA WILLMOREI. 



(Mr. Willmores Erica.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. ERICACEAE. (Lind.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Erica. (Linn.) Calyx 4-sepalus, inferus. Corolla 4-fida. Stamina receptaculo inserta. 

 Antherce bifidse. Capsula 3-locularis. 



Calyx 4-sepalled, inferior. Corolla 4-cleft. Stamens inserted upon the receptacle. Anthers 

 bifid. Capsule 4-celled. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



E. Willinorei ; (hyb. var.) foliis ternis linearibus canaliculatis ; bracteis calyci proximis ; 

 sepalis ovato-lanceolatis acutis ; floribus axillaribus ; corolRs tubuloso-ventricosis semi-pellucidis ; 

 antheris inclusis ; stigmate sub-exserto. 



Leaves in threes, linear, channelled ; bracteas close to the calyx ; sepals ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute ; flowers axillary ; corollas tubular- ventricose, semi-pellucid ; anthers included ; stigma 

 somewhat exserted. 



Descr. — Flowers rather transparent, in shape somewhat intermediate between tubular and 

 ventricose, of a bright but rather pale red, the mouth 4-parted, divisions rounded, of a beautiful 

 green with a delicate white margin. 



This hybrid variety of Erica is in the collection of John Willmore, Esq. of 

 Oldford, and was raised by that gentleman's gardener, Mr. John Williams, whose 

 skill and perseverance have been the means of introducing an immense number 

 of beautiful hybrids, particularly Calceolarias, many of which are infinitely more 

 beautiful than any of the original species. The present specimen is interesting 

 as affording a proof of the possibility of obtaining hybrid varieties between 

 Heaths with tubular flowers, and those with globose flowers ; or, to use the 

 language of gardeners, between the pill and the tube, a fact which we believe has 

 been very generally denied. 



The practice of hybridizing is so interesting and curious in itself, and is 

 attracting so much attention in the present day, that we are induced to offer a 

 few remarks upon the subject, extracted from the appendix to the Hon. and 

 Rev. W. Herbert's admirable work on the Amaryllidacece : — 



" The first experiments," says Mr. Herbert, " with a view to ascertain the possibility of 

 producing hybrid vegetables, appear to have been made in Germany, by Kolreuter, who 

 published reports of his proceedings in the acts of the Petersburg!! Academy, between fifty and 



