Part 6

THE Erica serpyllifolia resembles two very opposed and distinct species of Heaths, the E. thymifolia and E. peltata. The former similarly nomenclated; resembling the latter in shape, colour, abundance of flowers, and enlarged stigma, the expansion of which is so rare and peculiar to the E. peltata; and is also a most prominent feature in the physiology of the present figure, but when out of bloom; and the Ericas _thymifolia_ and _maryfolia_ are the only species that can claim the least affinity.

It was first raised from Cape seed at the nursery of Messrs. Loddiges, Hackney. Our drawing is from a plant at Mr. Lee’s, in the summer of 1826.

ERICA Shannonea.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA antheris basi bicornibus, inclusis: stylo sub-exserto: floribus terminalibus, ampullaceis: pedunculis longissimis: foliis ternis.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS pedalis, erectus: rami longi, sub-simplices.

FOLIA terna, trigona, subulata, recta, acuta, supra plana, subtus carinata.

FLORES terminales in umbellis quinis vel octonis, cum pedunculis longissimis rubris: corollis pallide carneis, glutinosissimis, magnis, ad sum mitatem cylindraceis, ad basin inflatis: ore arctato, laciniis expansis, ovatis.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat in Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Julii in Septembrem.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx.

2. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unâ lente auctâ.

3. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH with tips two-horned at the base, within the blossom: shaft just without: flowers terminal, flask-shaped: footstalks very long: leaves by threes.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM a foot high, upright: branches long, and nearly simple.

LEAVES by threes, three-sided, awl-shaped, straight and pointed, flat on the upper surface, and keeled beneath.

FLOWERS terminate the branches in umbels of 5 to 8, with very long red footstalks: blossoms of a pale flesh-colour, very glutinous, and large, cylindrical on the upper part, and swelled out at the base: narrowed at the mouth, with the segments spreading and egg-shaped.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped and furrowed, with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from July till September.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement.

2. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified.

3. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

THIS Erica was raised from Cape seed brought over by Niven in 1808. It is a fine addition to this extensive family, and may be increased by cuttings, but not so freely as many other species; which joined to the short period of only three years since it was first raised from seed, makes it at present rather scarce, and in but few collections. Our figure represents a plant in the nursery of Mr. Rollinson, where we found it under the specific title of Shannonea, in compliment to the Earl of Shannon.

ERICA Solandroides.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris aristatis, sub-exertis: floribus capitatis, aggregatis, cernuis: foliis confertis, pilosis, obtusis: ramis longis, simplicibus: caule erecto.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS pedalis et ultra: ramis simplicibus, longis, erectis, vel flexuosis.

FOLIA irregularia, plerumque quatuor, aggregata, pilosa, linearia obtusa, adscendentia: foliis ad basin patentibus.

FLORES capitatim terminales, aggregati: corolla parva, albente, tubo-campanulata: calyce duplici, exteriore trifoliato, subulato, piloso, adpresso: pedunculo brevi.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Maio in Julium.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx lente auctus.

2. Flos.

3. Stamen unum lente aucto.

4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

5. Germen lente auctum.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with bearded tips, just without the blossom: flowers grow in crowded heads, nodding: leaves crowded, hairy, and obtuse: branches long and simple: stem upright.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM a foot or more high: branches simple, long, upright, or flexuose.

LEAVES irregular, mostly by fours, crowded together, hairy, linear obtuse, and ascending: leaves at the base of the plant spreading.

FLOWERS terminate the branches in crowded heads: blossom small, whitish, tubularly bell-shaped: cup double, the outer one three-leaved awl-shaped, hairy, and pressed to the blossom: footstalk short.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from the month of May till July.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement.

2. A Flower.

3. A Chive magnified.

4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

5. Seed-bud magnified.

THIS Erica has been so often baptized, that we are under the necessity of detailing the order of their succession. First it was called E. Solandra after the late Dr. Solander; secondly, another plant of a similar appearance, but bearing purple flowers, was named after that gentleman. This plant was then for some years called the old Solandra; but has recently been named Erica stellata, which we cannot retain, having already occupied that specific title. No other way remained to avoid confusion, but again to rename it something like the first, and not unlike the second, by which means we hope to keep it in its proper sphere--at least to make it recognised for what it has been, by what it now is called.

Our drawing was made from plants at the Hammersmith Nursery.

ERICA splendens.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris aristatis, inclusis: stylo sub-exerto: floribus cylindraceis, tomentosis: foliis quaternis.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS fruticosus, erectus, pedalis et ultra: rami numerosi, tomentosi.

FOLIA quaterna, linearia, obtusa, tomentosa, adscendentia.

FLORES plerumque quaterni, patentes, terminales: corollis uncialibus, ovato-cylindraceis, villosis, coccineis: oris laciniis erecto-patulis.

GERMEN tiaræforme, villosum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Maii ad Augustum.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx.

2. Anthera una lente aucta.

3. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

4. Germen lente auctum.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with bearded tips, within the blossom: shaft just without: flowers cylindrical and downy: leaves by fours.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM shrubby, upright, a foot or more high: branches numerous and downy.

LEAVES by fours, linear, blunt, downy, and ascending.

FLOWERS grow mostly by fours, spreading, and terminal: blossoms an inch long, ovately cylindrical, villose, of a scarlet colour: segments of the border upright and spreading.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped, hairy, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from May till August.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement.

2. A Chive magnified.

3. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

4. Seed-bud magnified.

WE have adopted the specific title by which this Erica is well known in the gardens, although we should have preferred that of _tomentosa_, so decidedly descriptive of the downy character that pervades the whole plant, and which renders it difficult to preserve from the damps, which love to lodge on soft and downy pillows, too often to the destruction of their resting-place. Our figure represents an entire plant from the Nursery of Messrs. Colville, in the year 1816.

ERICA stellifera.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris muticis, inclusis: floribus subterminalibus: foliis quaternis: ramis verticillatis.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS pedalis et ultra: rami et ramuli verticillati.

FOLIA quaterna, lanceolata, pilosa, patentia.

FLORES subterminales, umbellati, erecti: pedunculi purpurei: calycis foliola lanceolata, basi bracteis binis oppositis instructa.

COROLLA inflata, ovata, apice arctata, incarnata: limbo æquali, patente, plerumque sexfido, albido.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Martii in Augustum.

REFERENTIA.

1. Folium.

2. Calyx lente auctus.

3. Antheræ et Pistillum, anthera una lente aucta.

4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

5. Flos varietatis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with beardless tips, within the blossom: flowers nearly terminal: leaves by fours: branches whorled.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM a foot or more high: the large and smaller branches grow in whorls.

LEAVES by fours, lance-shaped, hairy and spreading.

FLOWERS nearly terminal, in umbels, upright: footstalks purple: leaflets of the cup are lance-shaped, and furnished at the base with two opposite floral leaves.

BLOSSOM of an inflated form, ovate, narrowed towards the end, and flesh-coloured: segments of the border equal, spreading, mostly six-cleft and white.

SEED-bud turban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from March till August.

REFERENCE.

1. A leaf.

2. The Empalement magnified.

3. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified.

4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

5. Flower of a variety.

This Erica is supposed to have been raised from seed of E. _ventricosa_, or _pregnans_, and is called the star-flowered variety from the mouth of the flowers having six divisions, and the specific character of the genus being only four-cleft. There are one or two flowers that still remain unaltered, just sufficient to proclaim the metamorphosis not quite complete. There is also another seminal variety with six-cleft petals, and we have given a flower of it among the dissections; this variation, however, can in no other respect be distinguished from the old ventricose species; but the one our figure represents differs in many other particulars, that well support its claim to a specific distinction.

ERICA suaveolens.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA antheris muticis inclusis: floribus racemosis: foliis sparsis: caule fruticoso, erecto.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS sesquipedalis, erectus, ramosus: ramulis simplicibus.

FOLIA quina vel sena, numerosa, sparsa, linearia, acuta, adscendentia.

FLORES in apicibus ramorum, subterminales et racemosi: corolla cylindrica, odorata, pallide purpurea; oris laciniis recurvata.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Maii in Julium.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx.

2. Corolla varietatis profundæ.

3. Stamina et Pistillum, anthera una lente aucta.

4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH with beardless tips within the blossom: flowers grow in clusters: leaves scattered: stem shrubby and erect.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM a foot and half high, upright, branching: the smaller branches simple.

LEAVES by fives or sixes, numerous, scattered, linear, pointed, and ascending.

FLOWERS at the ends of the branches, nearly terminal, and clustered: blossom cylindrical, sweet-scented, and of a pale purple colour: segments of the border recurved.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped, and furrowed, furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from the month of May till July.

REFERENCE.

1. Empalement.

2. Blossom of a darker variety.

3. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified.

4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

THIS delicate species of Erica was raised from seed in the summer of 1828, at the Nursery of Messrs. Rollinson, Lower Tooting. The only Heath to which it bears any resemblance is the E. densa, figured in Vol. III. Its specific title alone will recommend it as a most valuable addition to this extensive genus, as the odour of its blossoms is equal in fragrance to almost any Rose.

ERICA sulphurea.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris muticis, sub-inclusis: stylo exerto: floribus cylindraceis, sessilibus: foliis quaternis.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS pedalis et ultra, erectus: rami sparsi, virgati, frequentes, villosi.

FOLIA quaterna, tenuia, obtusa, villosa, erecta.

FLORES sub-solitarii, sessiles, ramulos terminantes: corollis cylindraceo-clavatis, curvatis, villosis: limbo campanulato, revoluto.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Junii ad Octobrem.

REFERENTIA.

1. Folium lente auctum.

2. Calyx lente auctus.

3. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unâ lente auctâ.

4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with beardless tips, just within the blossom: shaft without: flowers are cylindrical and sessile: leaves by fours.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM a foot or more high, upright: branches scattered, twiggy, numerous, and hairy.

LEAVES by fours, thin, blunt, villose, and upright.

FLOWERS grow singly, sessile, and terminate the smaller branches: blossoms cylindrically club-shaped, curved, and hairy: the segments of the border are bell-shaped, and rolled back.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from June till October.

REFERENCE.

1. A leaf magnified.

2. The Empalement magnified.

3. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified.

4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

THIS lively shrub was first raised from Cape seed at the Hammersmith Nursery in 1814. In its general character it very much resembles the E. _tubiflora_ and the E. _sordida_, distinct from each, and yet resembling both. It is a brilliant addition to the gay and extensive genus Erica.

ERICA taxifolia, _major_.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris cristatis, inclusis: floribus in umbellis terminalibus: corollis urceolatis: foliis ternis, trigonis, mucronatis.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS erectus, bipedalis: ramulis ternis, verticillatis.

FOLIA terna, rigida, trigona, mucronata, glauca, suprà plana, subtùs canaliculata: petiolis longis.

FLORES ramos terminant in umbellis erectis: pedunculi colorati, bracteis tribus coloratis: corolla urceolata, carnea, calyce colorato fere tecta.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Julii in Decembrem.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx.

2. Stamen unum, cum antherâ unâ lente auctâ.

3. Germen auctum.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with crested tips, within the blossom; flowers terminate the branches in umbels: blossoms pitcher-shaped: leaves by threes, three-sided, and mucronated.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM upright, two feet high; smaller branches grow by threes in whorls.

LEAVES by threes, harsh, three-sided, mucronated, glaucous, flat on the upper surface, and channelled beneath: footstalks long.

FLOWERS grow at the ends of the branches in upright umbels: footstalks coloured, with three coloured floral leaves: blossom pitcher-shaped, flesh-coloured, and almost covered by a coloured cup.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from the month of July till December.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement.

2. A Chive, with a tip magnified.

3. Seed-bud magnified.

THIS fine plant resembles both the E. calycina major and the E. elegans, as well as the E. taxifolia, of which it is considered as a large variety: but from the crested character of the antheræ we are inclined to regard it as equally related to the two former species. It is well known to cultivators by the title we have adopted, and is said to have been first raised from Cape seed at the Hibbertian collection in 1806. Our drawing was made from a plant two feet high in the nursery of Mr. Williams.

ERICA Templea.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, muticis inclusis: floribus terminalibus: cernuis, foliis lanceolatis, hirsutis: caulis fruticosa.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS fruticosus, pedalis, ramis et ramulis, simplicibus, flexuosis.

FOLIA sena, lanceolata, curvata, patentia, supra plana, subtus sulco exarata: marginibus hirsutis.

FLORES in ultimis ramis terminales, in umbellis, cernuis; corolla sub cylindracea, ad basin inflata, subalbia, supra læte rubra et striatis, ore arcuata pilosa, laciniis revolutis.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, pilosum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Septembri in Decembrem.

REFERENTIA.

1. Folium.

2. Idem infra lente aucta.

3. Stamen et pistillum, antherà unà lente auctâ.

4. Germen et pistillum stigmata lente aucta.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with beardless tips, within the blossom: flowers terminal and nodding: leaves lance-shaped and hirsute: stem shrubby.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM shrubby, a foot high; the large and smaller branches simple and flexuose.

LEAVES by sixes, lance shaped, curved and spreading, flat on their upper surface and deeply furrowed beneath: margins harshly haired.

FLOWERS terminate the ends of the branches in umbels, nodding: blossom nearly cylindrical, swelled at the base, whitish, of a bright red colour above, and striped: narrowed at the mouth, and hairy segments rolled back.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped, furrowed, hairy, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from the month of September till December.

REFERENCE.

1. A Leaf.

2. The same shewn from beneath, magnified.

3. Chives and pointal, one tip magnified.

4. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.

THIS Erica was first raised from seed at the Hammersmith Nursery, about the year 1820, and named by the late Mr. Lee after Lady Temple; it is a perfectly new and distinct species; the Erica’s cerinthoides and obbata are the only heaths to which it bears any resemblance. It is a handsome shrub low in stature, but easily distinguished from most of this fine tribe by its glaucous, hairy foliage.

ERICA tenuiflora carnea.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA antheris muticis, inclusis: flores ramos terminant: foliis quaternis: caule fruticoso.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS pedalis et ultra, fruticosus, flexuosus, filiformis, virgatus.

FOLIA quaterna, leviter tomentosa, linearia, brevia, acuta, supra plana, subtus sulcata.

FLORES ramos terminant, terni vel quaterni, plerumque adscendentes: corolla tubæformi, tenuissima, incarnata: laciniis oris æqualibus, cordatis, acutis, patentibus.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret per menses æstivales.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx.

2. Antheræ et Pistillum.

3. Stamen unum, anthera lente aucta.

4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH with beardless tips within the blossom: flowers terminate the branches: leaves by fours: stem shrubby.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM a foot or more high, flexuose, thread-shaped, and twiggy.

LEAVES by fours, slightly downy, linear, short, pointed, flat on their upper surface, and furrowed beneath.

FLOWERS terminate the branches by threes and fours, mostly ascending: blossom trumpet-shaped, very slender, and flesh-coloured: segments of the border equal, heart-shaped, pointed, and spreading.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers during the summer months.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement.

2. The Chives and Pointal.

3. A Chive, one tip magnified.

4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

Our figure represents a fine new species of Erica communicated from the extensive collection of His Grace the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey, where it was raised from seed in the summer of 1824. In its foliage it very much resembles the _E. tenuiflora alba_, figured in our third volume; the principal if not the only distinction is, when in bloom, the delicacy of its flowers, whose fine blush-colour gives it a decided preference over the white variety. It is considered as a variety through the medium of the _E. spuria_, a mule to which the genus is indebted for many fine variations.

ERICA Thunbergia.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris muticis, inclusis: stylo sub-exerto: floribus globosis, campanulatis: foliis ternis.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS sesquipedalis, erectus: ramis filiformibus, virgatis.

FOLIA ternata, linearia, erecta, obtusa.

FLORES prope apices ramulorum umbellati: pedunculis longissimis: corolla tubo globoso luteo: limbo campanulato: laciniis cordatis, magnis, læte coccineis.

GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Februarii ad Julium.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx.

2. Corolla.

3. Stamina et Pistillum.

4. Germen et Pistillum.

5. Anthera una lente aucta.

6. Flos plenus vel monstrosus.

7. Idem expansus.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with beardless tips, within the blossom: shaft just without: flowers globular, and bell-shaped: leaves by threes.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM a foot and half high, upright: branches thread-shaped and twiggy.

LEAVES by threes, linear, upright, and blunt-ended.

FLOWERS grow near the ends of the branches, in umbels: footstalks very long; blossom with a round tube of a yellow colour: mouth of the flower bell-shaped: segments heart-shaped, large, and of a bright scarlet.

SEED-BUD turban-shaped, and furrowed, with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from February till July.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement.

2. A Blossom.

3. Chives and Pointal.

4. Seed-bud and Pointal.

5. One tip magnified.

6. A double or monstrous Flower.

7. The same spread open.

THIS Erica is said to be first described by Professor Montin in the Upsal Transactions. It is a very interesting plant, combining beauty with novelty, and perfectly distinct from any other species at present known: it bears the name of that able botanist Thunberg, and was first raised at the Hammersmith Nursery from Cape seed brought by the late F. Masson, Collector to the Royal Gardens at Kew.

ERICA transparens.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris muticis, inclusis: floribus terminalibus: foliis ternis.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS bipedalis, fruticosus, erectus.

FOLIA ternata, linearia, nitida, erecto-patentia: foliis majoribus flexuosis.

FLORES plerumque terni, cernui, ad ramorum extremitates: calyx duplex, crassus, adpressus: calyx exterior trifoliatus: corolla tubulosa, purpurea: oris laciniis viridi-albicantibus.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Julii ad Aprilem.

REFERENTIA.

1. Calyx.

2. Antheræ et Pistillum, anthera una lente aucta.

3. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.

4. Germen lente auctum.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

HEATH, with beardless tips, within the blossom: flowers terminal: leaves by threes.

DESCRIPTION.

STEM two feet high, shrubby, and erect.

LEAVES by threes, linear, shining, erect, and spreading: the larger leaves are flexuose.

FLOWERS grow mostly by threes, drooping, at the ends of the branches: empalement double, thick, and pressed to the blossom: the exterior calyx three-leaved: blossom tubular and purple: the segments of the border of a greenish white.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from the month of July till April.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement.

2. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified.

3. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.

4. Seed-bud magnified.

THE Erica _transparens_ may be considered as one of the most beautiful of this fine tribe of plants. Its flowers equal in lustre the finest silk: their succession is so abundant, that we have found it in luxuriant bloom for six months. Our drawing was finished in the month of February 1820; and although the cold season checked the rich colour of its blossoms, yet was it (even so restrained) the most elegant ornament of the conservatory. It resembles the E. _discolor_ in many particulars, but is specifically distinct in having the anthers _muticæ_ instead of _aristatæ_.

ERICA triflora.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris cristatis, inclusis: foliis ternis; floribus ternis, globosis, albis: calyce magno.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS sesquipedalis, erectus, ramosus: ramulis numerosis, plerumque ternis.

FOLIA terna, sub-trigona, acuta, lucida, patentia; petiolis longis, adpressis.