


OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 189 
GENUS I. 
ERICA Lin. THE HEATH. 
Lin. Syst. OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA, 
Generic Cuaracter,—Calyx four-parted. Corolla campanulate or | to eight-celled, opening with from four to eight valves, surrounded by 
ventricose, with a four-lobed limb. Anthers two-horned or emarginate, | the persistent calyx. 
exserted or latent. Stigma somewhat four-lobed. Capsules from four 
Description, &c.—The species included in this genus are all low evergreen shrubs, with slender sharply- 
pointed leaves. They are very numerous, amounting to several hundreds. It will, therefore, be impossible 
within the limits of a work like the present to do more than to take a very few of the most ornamental. 
1.—ERICA BANKSIANA Ait. SIR JOSEPH BANKS’S HEATH. 
Synonymes.—E. fragilis Salisb.; Ectasis Banksiana D. Don. Sreciric Cuaracter.— Leaves mucronate. Corolla cylindrical, 
Encravines.—Andrews’s Heaths, t. 66; Paxton’s Mag. of Bot. | with a reflexed limb. Stamens much exserted, with dilated filaments. 
vol. vii., p. 243; and our jig. 5, in Pl. 38. Pericarp bearded. ; 
Description, &c.—This very beautiful species has the singular appearance of one flower growing out of another, 
from the stamens being much exserted and the filaments dilated so as to form a tube, to which the anthers are 
attached and form a kind of fringe. The plant is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced 
in 1787. It generally begins to flower in February, and continues till July. 
2.—ERICA TUMIDA Ker. THE TUMID HEATH. 
Eneravines.—Bot. Reg., t. 65; and our jig. 1, in Pl. 38. 
Speciric Cuaracter.—Pubescent. Bracts subulate, near the calyx. Leaves decussate, in fours. Corolla hairy, much longer than the calyx. 
Description, &c.—This species is remarkable for the swollen tube of the flower, which is enormously large in 
proportion to the limb. The flowers are very brilliant in colour, but the brightness of their hue is somewhat 
dimmed by the thick pubescence which clothes them. ‘The leaves of the plant are of a very glaucous green. The 
stamens are completely hidden in the tube of the flower. The species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, 
whence it was introduced about 1812. 
3.—ERICA ARDENS Andr. THE GLOWING HEATH. 
Synonymz.—Pachysa ardens D. Don. Speciric CuaractTEer.— Leaves linear, spreading, glabrous, three in 
Encravines.—Bot. Reg., t. 115; Andrews’s Heaths, t. 14 ; Lodd. | a whorl, stiff, Corolla nearly globose, coriaceous. Stamens inclosed. 
Bot, Cab., t. 47; and our jig. 6, in Pl. 38. 
Description, &c.—A very pretty little plant, which grows in a very compact manner, and forms an elegant 
little shrub even when not in flower. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced in 1800. 
7 
4,—ERICA AITONIANA Andry. MR. AITON’S HEATH. 
Synonymes.—E,. jasminifiora Salisb.; Euryloma Aitonii D. Don. erect. Flowers terminal, usually by threes. Bracteas remote from the 
Encravincs.—Bot. Mag., t. 429; Andrews’s Heaths, t. 25 ; Lodd. | calyx. Corolla viscid, with a cylindrical tube, which is ventricose at 
Bot. Cab., t. 144; and our jig. 4, in Pl. 38. the top, and large ovate segments. Style exserted, 
Speciric Cuaracter.—Leayes three in a whorl, linear, serrulated, 
Description, &c.—A very singular-looking species, the flowers of which look shining as though they had 
been varnished. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced in 1790. 
% 




