they continue to lengthen as the capsule is coming to
perfection, until they are from 5 to 8 lines in length;
more or less tinged with brown, as is the calyx. Calyx
tubular, 5-parted: segments very unequal, the three inner
ones more than double the size of the other two, and
obtuse, the two outer ones very narrow, and acute. P e tals
5, distinctly spreading, of a bright but pale yellow,
obovately ovate. Stamens from 9 to 15, spreading when
the flower first expands, afterwards closing round the
style : filaments unequal in length, smooth, pale yellow,
about the length of the style: anthers small, 2-lobed,
the lobes distant and distinct, opening longitudinally:
pollen golden yellow. Germen downy. Style erect, or
slightly bent, smooth. Stigma simple, very small.
This elegant little plant is at present very scarce in
our collections, owing to its being supposed to be very
difficult of cultivation; but our present subject thrives
very well, and grows quite luxuriant in a pot of sandy
peat soil; and would, we expect, still grow more luxuriant,
if planted out in a bed of sandy peat, in rather
a shady situation, as it is said to cover large tracts of
ground in America, in the sandy Pine woods, in the same
manner as the common heath in England.
H. ericoides of Nuttall, is, as M. Decandolle observes,
most probably quite a different species from the
present plant, as he describes the flowers as growing in
fascicles, and the present only produces them singly.
Young cuttings, planted under hand-glasses in sandy
peat soil in the open air, in August or September, will
strike root, if the glasses are occasionally taken off to
dry them, that they may not damp.
Our drawing was taken from a plant, procured for us
in flower by Mr. G. Charlwood, in July last.