Polygala Heisteria. Heath-Leaved Milkwort.
Class and Order.
Diadelphia Octandria.
Generic Character.
Cal. 5-phyllus: foliolis 2 majoribus alæformibus, ante maturitatem seminis coloratis. Capsula obcordata 2-locularis, Semina solitaria.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
POLYGALA Heisteria floribus imberbibus lateralibus, caule arborescente, foliis triquetris mucronato-spinosis. Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 639. Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 6.
SPARTIUM africanum frutescens ericæ folio. Comm. Hort. 2. p. 193. t. 97.
THYMBRA capensis nepetæ Theophrasti foliis aculeatis flore parvo purpureo. Pluk. Alm. 366. t. 229. f. 5.
HEISTERIA. Hort. Cliff. 352.
No. 340
After receiving various names, this plant has been finally placed by Linnæus among the Milkworts; it retains the trivial name of Heisteria, instead of the generic one previously bestowed on it, in honour of Prof. Heister, the celebrated German Surgeon.