3 
ERICA TRICOLOR; var. SUPERBA. 
(superb three-coloured heath.) 
class. order. 
OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
natural order. 
ERICAOEtE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx four-sepalled, inferior. Corolla with four divisions. Stamens inserted in 
the receptacle. Anthers bifid. Capsules four-celled. 
Specific Character. — Leaves three in a whorl, linear, recurved, ciliated, as well as the bracteas and 
calyxes, the terminating hairs the longest. Pedicels hibracteate near the base. Flowers terminal, 
usually about six together. Corolla viscid, with a large ventricose tube, and ovate, cordate, slightly 
crenulated segments. Style exserted. — Don's Gardening and Botany. 
Var. SuPERBA.. — Flowers produced in indefinite numbers, usually within half an inch of the extremities of 
the shoots. Tube of the corolla an inch and a half long, much inflated towards the base, of a 
reddish flesh -colour, which gradually merges into dark brown towards the summit ; segments pale 
pink internally. 
If we range the whole vegetable kingdom, and examine attentively its almost 
innumerable tribes, we shall not j&nd a group so extensive, so unique, and 
so imperishably interesting, as the genus Erica. With nearly every possible 
diversity in the colour and size of their flowers, heaths display a gracility and 
elegance of character which at once distinguishes them from all other known 
plants ; and although the species and varieties number considerably above five 
hundred, we do not think there is one of them, the general appearance of which 
would lead the botanist to mistake it for a member of another family. This 
remarkable similarity of structure in so comprehensive a genus, is by no means so 
great as to preclude a perceptible and marked distinction between the species, and 
even the varieties ; nor is the resemblance such as to render a collection of them at 
all displeasing from uniformity. It is to their general aspect and habit of growth, 
and not to their particular characteristics, that we allude ; for, as we before 
observed, their flowers are most delightfully diversified. 
Of all the charming species or varieties with which we are acquainted, the 
superb plant here depicted is decidedly the most ornamental. Whether we con- 
sider the large size of its flowers, or their exquisite beauty, it certainly appears 
unrivalled by any of its allies. Nor is its general appearance uninteresting ; for 
the deep-green hue of its prettily ciliated foliage presents itself in pleasing contrast 
to the glowing, wax-like flowers. All admirers of the tribe (and in this designa- 
tion we include every lover of flowers) will, we are convinced, feel desirous of 
obtaining this most lovely variety. 
