Mr. AITON in his _Hort. Kew._ mentions this plant as being a native of New-Zealand, on the authority of Sir JOSEPH BANKS, and that it was introduced in 1772; he regards it as a stove plant; it has been since found to be more hardy than he imagined, and not to require more heat than the greenhouse affords; in the Summer it will stand abroad, and even ripen its fruit in the open air. It is a plant of some beauty, but is more remarkable for having its antheræ separating widely from each other, and thereby losing the character of a _Solanum_, so far as it depends on that circumstance. The berries when ripe are of the size of a small plum, and of a yellowish green hue; their pulp is sweet, in some small degree resembling that of a fig, whether it be so innocent we do not take on us to assert. It flowers during most of the Summer, and is easily increased by cuttings or seeds. [350] ERICA VENTRICOSA. PORCELAIN HEATH. _Class and Order._ OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character._ _Calyx_ 4-phyllus. _Corolla_ 4-fida. _Filamenta_ receptaculo inserta. _Antheræ_ bifidæ. _Caps._ 4-locularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ ERICA _ventricosa_ mutica, foliis quaternis trigonis ciliatis, floribus ventricosis glabris. _Thunb. Prod. Cap. p. 71._ [Illustration: _N^o. 350_] Of the many new Heaths which have been introduced within these few years, none have excited greater admiration than the present one; its blossoms, though they cannot boast the grandeur or richness of colour so strikingly displayed in the _cerinthoides_, and some others, please more on a near inspection, they have indeed a delicacy and beauty which are indescribable; we have given to it the English name of Porcelain Heath, as the flowers have somewhat the appearance of porcelain, or enamel. This species has been introduced from the Cape, since the publication of the _Hortus Kewensis_; we saw it in blossom many years since, in the Royal Garden at Kew; several varieties of it have been raised from Cape seeds by Mr. LODDIGES, Nurseryman, at Hackney, differing in the hairiness of their leaves, size and colour of their blossoms; but the best variety we have seen is the one here represented. In point of form the blossoms resemble those of the _ampullacea_, but they are not so large, and have no viscidity; the stigma is enclosed within the mouth of the flower, and the peduncles are usually naked; in some very luxuriant specimens we have observed a scale or two on them. It is with Heaths, in some respects, as it is with fruit trees: one season they will produce blossoms most abundantly, they seem indeed to overblow themselves, the next few appear; in different years the blossoms of the same heath will vary also considerably in size. The _ventricosa_ is a free blower, and will in general produce flowers in abundance, for two or three months, from June to September. Those who possess the knack of striking heaths, raise it by cuttings without much difficulty. [351]