ERICA droseroides.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis; corolla ventricosa, ore obliqua, purpurea; pedunculis coloratis, longissimis; foliis alternis, sparsis, obtusis, pilis glandulosis micantibus hirtis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, spithameus; rami et ramuli filiformes, sparsi, erecto-patentes, virgati.
Folia alterna, sparsa, linearia, obtusa, apice reflexa, pilis glandulosis hirta.
Flores terminales, sub-umbellati, sub-erecti; pedunculi filiformes, foliis duplo longiores; bracteæ minutæ, coloratæ.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum; foliolis sub-ovatis, viscosis, acuminatis, coloratis, apicibus reflexis.
Corolla ventricosa, purpurea, costata, pubescens, ore obliqua, arctata, profunde sanguinea; laciniis cordatis, expansis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, torta, receptaculo inserta; antheræ cristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen clavatum, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, purpureus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii ad Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx et Corolla.
2. Calyx lente auctus.
3. Stamina et Pistillum.
4. Stamina a Pistillo diducta; antherâ unâ lente auctâ.
5. Stylus et Stigma lente aucta.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips, within the blossom, which is big-bellied, oblique-mouthed, and purple; the foot-stalks are coloured, and very long; leaves grow alternate, scattered, blunt, and thick with shining glandular hairs.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, about a span high; the larger and smaller branches are thread-shaped, scattered, upright, spreading, and twiggy.
Leaves grow alternate, scattered, linear, blunt, the end bent back, and thick with glandular hairs.
Flowers are terminal, nearly in bunches, almost upright; the foot-stalks are thread-shaped, and twice as long as the leaves; the floral leaves are small, and coloured.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved; leaves nearly egg-shaped, clammy, pointed, coloured, and bent outward at the top.
Blossom big-bellied, purple, ribbed, and downy, with the mouth oblique, narrowed, and of a deep blood colour; the segments are heart-shaped, and spreading.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, which are twisted, and fixed into the receptacle; the tips are crested, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-vessel club-shaped, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, and purple. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till October.
REFERENCE.
1. The 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.
