ERICA cruenta.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris aristatis, sub-inclusis, foliis quaternis, corollis sub-ternis, glabris, clavato-cylindricis, pollicaribus; saturate sanguineis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, bipedalis, erectus; rami erecti, ramulosi; ramulis brevissimis, frequentissimis.
Folia quaterna, linearia, glabra, nitida, saturate viridia, petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.
Flores in ramulis terminales, prope caulis summitatem, racemum quali formantes longum; pedunculi longi, bracteis tribus ad basin instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis lanceolatis, serratis, adpressis.
Corolla clavato-cylindrica, glabra, cruenta, pollicaris; oris laciniis rectis, obtusis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, receptaculo inserta; antheræ aristatæ, sub-inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen sub-ovatum, sulcatum, pubescens; stylus exsertus; stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mensi Augusti, in Decembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx, et Corolla.
2. Calyx, lente auctus.
3. Stamina, et Pistillum.
4. Stamina a Pistillo diducta; anthera una lente aucta.
5. Stylus, et Stigma, lente aucta.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, whose tips are bearded, and just within the blossom; the leaves grow by fours, the flowers mostly by threes, and are smooth, cylindrically club-shaped, an inch long, and of a deep blood colour.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, grows two feet high, and upright; the branches grow upright, having many smaller branches, which are thick set, and very short.
The Leaves grow by fours, are linear, smooth, shining, and of a deep green, having very short foot-stalks, pressed to the stem.
The Flowers terminate the shorter branches near the summit of the stem, forming as it were a long bunch; the foot-stalks are long, having three floral leaves at their base.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved, which are lance-shaped, sawed, and pressed to the blossom.
The Blossom is cylindrically club-shaped, smooth, blood colour, and an inch long; the segments of the mouth are obtuse, and straight.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, fixed into the receptacle; the tips are bearded, and just within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-vessel nearly egg-shaped, furrowed, and downy; Shaft without the blossom; Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from August, till December.
REFERENCE.
1. Empalement, and Blossom.
2. The Empalement magnified.
3. The Chives, and Pointal.
4. The Chives detached from the Pointal; one tip magnified.
5. The Shaft, and its Summit magnified.
