, GERARD, one of the
first, gives us the following account: "This beautiful Bindweed, which
we call _Convolvulus Caeruleus_, is called of the Arabians _Nil_: of
_Serapio_, _Hab al nil_, about Alepo and Tripolis in Syria, the
inhabitants call it Hasmisen, the Italians _Campana azurea_, of the
beautifull azured flowers and also _Fior de notte_, bicause his beautie
appeereth most in the night:" he informs us, that it grew in his garden,
but perished before it ripened its seeds. PARKINSON says, it thrives
remarkably well in our country, if the year be any thing kindly: MILLER
informs us, that it is a native of Africa and America, extols it as one
of the most beautiful of the genus, observes, that it is a very distinct
species from the purpurea, of which it has been considered by some as a
variety; that it will grow to the height of eight or ten feet, that in
favourable seasons the seeds will ripen in the open air, and that it
requires the same treatment as other annuals usually raised on a
hot-bed. Mr. AITON considers it as a stove plant, as indeed most of our
tender annuals properly are.

It flowers from July to September.

Though apparently common in our gardens formerly, it is now very rarely
met with.

[Illustration]

[189]

ERICA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWERED HEATH.

_Class and Order._

OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 4-phyllus. _Cor._ 4-fida. _Filamenta_ receptaculo inferta.
_Antherae_ bifidae. _Caps._ 4-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ERICA _grandiflora_ antheris muticis exfertis, corollis
cylindraceis subincurvis glabris, stylo elongato, floribus
axillaribus pedunculatis, foliis subsenis acerosis glabris. _Ait.
Hort. Kew. vol. 2. p. 25._

ERICA _grandiflora_ foliis quaternis, stylo exserto, corolla
cylindrica, calyce simplici, floribus lateralibus subcurvatis.
_Linn. Suppl. Pl. p. 223._

The Erica here figured, is one of the many new and beautiful species,
which within these few years have been sent from the Cape by Mr. MASSON,
and which have contributed so greatly to enrich the royal garden at Kew.

The description given of the _grandiflora_ in the _Suppl. Plant_.
accords so ill with our plant, that we should be led to consider it as
another species, did not the respectable authority of the _Hortus
Kewensis_ silence all doubts on that head.

The blossoms of this species, whether we regard their magnitude, thei