ERICA capitata.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, sub-inclusis; corollis globosis, albidis, tomentosis, tectis calyce magno, hispido, colorato; foliis ternis, pilosis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, laxus, filiformis, fuseus; rami filiformes, villosi; ramuli capillares, frequentes, tomentosi.
Folia terna, linearia, obtusa, dorso sulcata, pilis longis hirta; petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.
Flores in extremis ramulis terminales bini, vel terni, cernuo-patenti; pedunculi brevissimi, bracteis tribus, minutis, adpressis, instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis ovatis, concavis, incurvatis maximis, totis densissime hirtis, adpressis, luteo-viridis.
Corolla sub-globosa, alba, lanata, in sinu calycis fere recondita.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, receptaculo inserta. Antheræ muticæ sub-inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen subrotundum, apice pilosum. Stylus filiformis, exsertus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mensi Julii, in Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx, et Corolla.
2. Corolla.
3. Calyx, lente auctus.
4. Stamina, et Pistillum.
5. Stamina a Pistillo diducta, anthera una lente aucta.
6. Stylus, et Stigma, lente aucta.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, just within the blossoms, which are globular, white and downy, being covered with a large, hairy, coloured cup; leaves grow by threes, and are hairy.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, weak, thread-shaped, and brown; branches thread-shaped, and hairy; small branches like hairs, numerous, and downy.
Leaves grow by threes, linear, blunt, furrowed at the back, and covered with long, harsh hairs; foot-stalks very short, and pressed to the branches.
Flowers grow at the extremity of the smaller branches, by twos or threes, spreading out, and nodding; foot-stalks very short, having three small floral leaves, which are pressed to the blossom.
Empalement. Cup of four leaves, which are egg-shaped, concave, turned inwards, very large, quite covered with strong hairs, pressed to the blossoms, and of a yellow-green.
Blossom nearly globular, white and woolly, almost hid within the cup.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, fixed into the receptacle. Tips beardless, and nearly within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud nearly round, and hairy at the end. Shaft thread-shaped, and without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July, till October.
REFERENCE.
1. Empalement, and Blossom.
2. A Blossom.
3. The Empalement, magnified.
4. The Chives, and Pointal.
5. The Chives detached from the Pointal, one Tip magnified.
6. The Shaft, and its Summit, magnified.
