ERICA serpyllifolia.
CHAH ACTE R SPECTFICUS.
ERICA antheris muticis inclusis : stylo exerto :
stigmate magno : foliis tematis : caule debili,
fruticoso.
DESCRIPTIO.
GAULIS subpedalis, tenuis : ramis ct ramulis
filiformibus, numerosis, flexuosis.
FOLIA terna, cordata, patcntia, supra subplana,
setis minutis instructa, subtus glauca, marginibus
revolutis.
FLORES terní vel seni, in ramos terminant: corolla
parva, campanulata, pallide carnea: stigma
le magno, patente, tetrágono, peltato, incluso.
GERMEN t¡ara;fbrme, sulcatum, villosum, ad
basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bona; Spei.
Floret a mense Julii ad Novembrem.
REFERENT! A
1. Folium.
2. Idem auctum.
3. Corolla.
4. Eadem aucta.
5. Stamen et Pistillum.
6. Eadem lente aucta.
7. Germen auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
HEATH with beardless tips within the blossom :
shaft without : summit large : leaves ternate :
stem weak and shrubby.
DESCRIPTION.
STEM near a foot high and slender : the large
id smaller branches arc thread-shaped, numerous,
mid ilexuose.
LEAVES by threes, heart-shaped, and spreader,
nearly flat on their upper surface, and furnished
with minute seta; or bristles ; glaucous
beneath, with the edges rolled back.
FLOWERS grow by threes or sixes, terminating
the branches: blossom small, bell-shaped, and of
pale flesh-colour : stigma large, spreading,
ith four corners, inclosed in a shield.
SEED-BUD turban-shaped, furrowed, villosc,
and furnished at the base with honey-bearing
nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from July till November.
REFF.lt E\'('E.
1. A leaf.
2. The same magnified.
2. A blossom.
4. The same magnified.
5. Chive and Pointal.
C. The same magnified.
7. Seed-bud magnified
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 (hymifolia and maryjblia 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.