IN the Genus Erica it is sometimes very difficult to find an appropriate or unoccupied specific title. This little shrub furnishes no less than four to choose from: this choice has already given the additional title of _exserta_ to that of _peltata_, from the trivial circumstance of the pointals protruding a little more in some plants than others: a mere casualty, probably depending on its strength or culture. The flowers are so very minute, that the pointals are the most conspicuous, resembling shields in miniature. The anthers are large, compared to the small size of the flowers, and so fertile, that when in full bloom if shaken, they emit such a quantity of pollen as would afford the specific titles of fertilis or farinosa. Our drawing was made at Mr. Lee’s last summer (1823); but we have seen it in bloom as long ago as 1806. [Illustration] ERICA perspicua. CHARACTER SPECIFICUS. ERICA, antheris muticis, inclusis: floribus cylindricis, villosis, ramulos terminantibus: foliis ternis, linearibus. DESCRIPTIO. CAULIS fruticosus, sesquipedalis, erectus, et patens: ramuli numerosi. FOLIA terna, linearia, subtus sulcata: petiolis longis, adpressis. FLORES terni, ramulos terminantes: pedunculi colorati, bracteis duabus parvis adpressis: corolla cylindracea et pilosa, ad basin purpurea, et superne alba; laciniis ovatis, patentibus: calycis foliolis lanceolatis, adpressis. GERMEN tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum. Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei. Floret a mense Aprili in Novembrem. REFERENTIA. 1. Calyx. 2. Stamina et Pistillum. 3. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. HEATH, with beardless tips within the blossom: flowers cylindrical, hairy, and terminating the small branches: leaves by threes, linear. DESCRIPTION. STEM shrubby, a foot and a half high, upright, and spreading: smaller branches numerous. LEAVES by threes, linear, furrowed beneath, with longish footstalks pressed to the branches. FLOWERS terminate the smaller branches by threes: peduncles coloured, with two small floral leaves pressed to them: blossom cylindrical and hairy, purple at the base, and white at the upper part: segments of the border ovate and spreading: leaves of the empalement lance-shaped, and pressed to the blossom. SEED-BUD turban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished with honey-bearing nectaries at the base. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers from the month of April till November. REFERENCE. 1. The Empalement. 2. Chives and Pointal. 3. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. THIS elegant plant resembles the E. Linnæa, and is by most cultivators as well known by the appellation of the old Linneoides as by the specific title of perspicua. It flowers early in spring, and continues in successive bloom till late in autumn. It was first raised from Cape seed in the Royal gardens at Kew, and flowered in the nursery of Mr. Williams at Turnham Green about the year 1796.