ERICA flexuosa.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, exsertis, rubris; corollis minutis, albidis, sub-campanulatis; bractæ albæ, calyciformes; rami flexuosi; foliis ternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticus, pedalis vel paulo ultra, inserne nudus, erectus; rami flexuosi, virgati; ramuli brevissimi, sub-terni.
Folia terna, linearia, glabra, acuta, subtus sulcata; petiolis adpressis.
Flores in ultimis ramulis terminates, subterni; pedunculi albo-tomentosi, bracteæ albidæ, juxta basin calycis sitæ.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis ovatis, acuminatis, concavis, albidis, adpressis.
Corolla minuta, sub-campanulata, albida, glabra; oris laciniis adpressis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria apice incurvata. Antheræ muticæ, exsertæ, rubræ.
Pistillum. Germen sub-rotundum, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, exsertus. Stigma peltatum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mensi Aprili, in Julium.
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. Germen, Stylus, et Stigma, lente aucta.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, red, and without the blossoms, which are small, white, almost bell-shaped; the floral leaves are white, and resemble the cup; the branches grow zig-zag; the leaves grow by threes.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, grows rather more than a foot high, naked beneath, and upright; the branches grow zig-zagged, and twiggy; the smaller branches are short, and grow mostly by threes.
The Leaves grow by threes, are linear and smooth, sharp, furrowed underneath; the foot-stalks pressed to the stem.
The Flowers terminate the ends of the smaller branches, mostly by threes; the foot-stalks are of a downy white; the floral leaves are white, and placed close to the cup.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved, which are egg-shaped, pointed, concave, white, and pressed to the blossom.
Blossom small, nearly bell-shaped, white, and smooth; the segments of the mouth are pressed to the threads.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, bent inwards at the end. Tips are red, beardless, and without the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-vessel nearly round, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, and without the blossom. Summit shield-shaped.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from April, till July.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement, and Blossom.
2. The Blossom.
3. The Empalement magnified.
4. The Chives, and Pointal.
5. The Chives detached from the Pointal; one tip magnified.
6. The Seed-vessel, Shaft, and its Summit, magnified.
