ERICA CAVENDISHIANA. 
(The Duke of Devonshire's Heath.) 
Class. Order. 
OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ERICACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx four-parted, inferior. 
Corolla with four divisions. Stamens inserted in the 
receptacle. Anthers bifid. Capsules four-celled, many- 
SPEciFrc Character.— Plant an evergreen shrub. 
Stem erect, branches spreading. Leaves four in a 
whorl, linear, with revolute margins, glabrous. Flow- 
ers terminal on the lateral shoots, two to four toge- 
ther, drooping, yellow. Bracteas close to the 
calyx. Corolla with an oblong, somewhat inflated 
tube. Stamens inclosed ; anthers with long subulate 
awns. 
Large plants of this magnificent Heath have been exhibited within the last 
two or three years at most of the great metropolitan floral fetes. It is one of the 
many examples which our gardens and greenhouses now afford of the improvement 
which art is capable of conferring upon the wild productions of nature, by uniting 
the beauties of different species through cross-fecundation. 
It originated about eight years ago in the nursery of Messrs. Rollisson and 
Sons, at Tooting, who have long been famous for their superior management of the 
genus. The seeds from which it sprung were produced by E. depressa, fertilised 
with the pollen of E. Patersonii. It inherits many of the characteristics of the 
seed-bearing parent, but differs from it in possessing a more robust habit, in its 
greater rapidity of growth, and the brighter yellow of its blossoms. Besides these, 
it may be distinguished by the strong upright main branches from which short 
lateral shoots issue on every side, each ending with from two to four flowers, alto- 
gether forming a complete pyramid of blossom. E. depressa, on the other hand, 
has decumbent branches, with much longer lateral growths ; the flowers consequently 
are not arranged pyramidally, but appear more scattered, and less showy. In 
addition to the foregoing distinctions, there are several minor points of variance, by 
which they may be distinguished from each other, amongst which we may instance 
the greater length and tenuity of the foliage of our subject, and its anthers having 
somewhat longer awns or spurs at the base than those of its parent. 
Specimens of this variety may be soon produced of a considerable size by 
encouraging treatment. The flowers are developed from May till the end of July, 
and that in the utmost abundance ; hence it forms an excellent sort for exhibitors. 
