2774
ERICA mediterranean ß.
Mediterranean Heath, var. ß.
OCTANDRIA Monogynia.
Gen. Char. Calyx of 4 leaves, inferior. Corolla of
one petal, campanulate, often ventricose. Capsule
4-celled, 4-valved; dissepiments from the
middle of the valves.
Spec. Char. Anthers without awns, and as well as
the style exserted. Corolla narrow, urceolate.
Bracteas about the middle of the peduncle.
Calyx coloured. Flowers axillary. Leaves 4 in
a whorl.
Syn. Erica mediterranea. Linn. Mant. 229.
Thunb. Diss. n. 41. Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. 2. v. 2.
367. Curt. Bot. Mag. t. 471. Duby, Bot.
Gall. v. l j 318.
Var. (3. flowering branches and style shorter.
Erica mediterranea. Hook. Brit. FI. ed. 2. 176.
I t is not a little remarkable that notwithstanding the
limited extent of the British Islands, and the number of
zealous botanists they have produced, two of our most remarkable
native plants, the most beautiful of a highly
beautiful genus, and covering the ground as they do to an
extent of some acres,—should, till within these few years,
have remained undiscovered, and unknown save to the
shepherd and the illiterate peasant of the neighbourhood.
We allude to the Erica ciliaris (t. 2618. of this Supplement),
and the subject of the present plate, which was detected
by our valued friend J . T. Mackay, Esq. in September
1830, growing on the sides of Urrisbeg Mountain,
Cunnamara, Ireland. It was not then in flower ; but Mr.
Mackay has since (April 1833,) favoured us with numerous
flowering specimens, from one of which the accompanying
figure was made.
It is, we believe, rightly referred by its discoverer to the
E. mediterranea; still it must be confessed that it partakes
nearly as much of the character of E. carnea,—two plants