Fig. 49.—Cape Heath.
(E. hispida.) point, beyond which the stigma and anthers project; as in the Cape Heath, called Erica hispida, a flower of which is shown in fig. 49. The leaves also differ exceedingly, in the number contained in each whorl; as in some species there are only three in a whorl, while in others they are five or six. The general features of all the Heaths are, however, the same—viz., there are eight stamens, which are generally inclosed in the corolla, though they sometimes project beyond it, as shown in fig. 49, and the anthers of which are two-cleft, and awned or crested at the base, while the filaments are hair-like; one style, which always projects beyond the corolla, and has a flattened stigma; a four-parted calyx and corolla which is tubular, with a four-parted limb. There are nearly two hundred species of this genus, some of which are natives of Europe, and others of the Cape of Good Hope.
The moor Heaths (Gypsocallis) were separated from the genus Erica, by Mr. Salisbury, principally on account of the corolla being campanulate, or shortly tubular, with a dilated mouth; and the stamens projecting beyond the corolla. The filaments are also generally flat; the anthers are without awns, and distinctly in two parts; and the stigma is simple, and scarcely to be distinguished from the style. The common Cornish Heath (G. vagans), and the Mediterranean Heath (G. Mediterranea), are examples of this genus, which appears strongly marked, though, as I before mentioned, some botanists do not adopt it.
Callista is a genus established by the late Professor Don, which appears very distinct,
Fig. 50.—Callista bucciniflora. though it also has not been generally adopted. It includes all those beautiful Cape Heaths which have a shining, glutinous, ventricose, or cylindrical corolla with a spreading limb (see a in fig. 50), and a capitate stigma (b). C. bucciniflora and C. ventricosa, are examples of this genus.
The Ling or Heather, which Linnæus called Erica vulgaris, is now generally placed by all botanists in a separate genus called Calluna, which was established by Mr. Salisbury. The calyx of this plant is membranous, and coloured so as to
Fig. 51.—Stamen of the Ling. resemble a corolla, and it is furnished with four bracts at the base, which resemble a calyx. The true corolla is bell-shaped, and shorter than the calyx. The stamens are inclosed, and the anthers are of the very singular form shown in fig. 51. The stigma is capitate, and the flowers are disposed in what is called a racemose spike. The leaves are trigonal; they are very short, and they are laid over each other like scales in four rows. The Ling is the only species in the genus.