Erica Baccans. Arbutus-Flowered Heath.

Class and Order.

Octandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Cal. 4-phyllus. Cor. 4-fida. Filamenta receptaculo inserta. AntherÆ apice bifidÆ pertusÆ. Caps. 4-locularis. 4-valvis polysperma.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

ERICA baccans antheris cristatis inclusis, corollis globoso-campanulatis calyce colorato inclusis, foliis imbricatis. Linn. Mant. p. 233.

ERICA baccans antheris cristatis, corollis globoso-campanulatis tectis, stylo incluso, foliis ternis imbricatis. Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 366. Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 18.

ERICA baccans cristata foliis quaternis linearibus serrulatis, floribus umbellatis calyce ovato Æquante. Thunb. Prod. p. 74.

ERICA Africana glabra fruticosa arbuti flore. Seb. Mus. 1. p. 32. t. 21. f. 3.

Seba, a Dutch writer, appears first to have noticed this Heath; he figures it in his Museum, and distinguishes it by the name of Arbutus-flowered, which Mr. Aiton has retained.

This very elegant and ornamental species grows to a considerable height, and in favourable situations produces abundance of flowers early in the summer, which are remarkable, though not peculiarly so, for being enveloped with a calyx of same colour.

It is a native of the Cape, and was introduced by Mr. Masson in 1774[5].

Is raised from seeds, which it ripens with us more freely than most of the African Heaths, a fortunate circumstance, as it is scarcely possible to strike its cuttings.

Seedling plants rarely flower till they are three years old.

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