ERICA glauca.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis; floribus umbellatis, terminalibus, livide-purpureis; pedunculis longissimis; bracteis ovatis, maximis; folia terna, linearia, carnosa, glauca.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, fragilis, sesquipedalis; rami erecti, subsimplices, longi.
Folia terna, linearia, acuta, patentia, sulcata, glabra, carnosa, glauca; petiolis adpressis.
Flores terminales, umbellati, nutantes; pedunculi longissimi, colorati, bracteis ternis, coloratis, ovatis, concavis instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis ovatis, coloratis, reflexis.
Corolla subconica, atro-purpurea, ore arctata; laciniis reflexis, acuminatis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo, capillaria, receptaculo inserta. Antheræ cristatæ, ad basin gibbæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen subglobosum, sulcatum. Stylus inclusus, cylindricus. Stigma peltatum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mensi Maii, in Julium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx, et Corolla.
2. Calyx, lente auctus.
3. Stamina, et Pistillum.
4. Stamina a Pistillo diducta.
5. Stamen unum lente auctum.
6. Germen, Stylus, et Stigma; Stigma lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips, within the blossoms, which grow in bunches, at the end of the branches, and are of a livid purple colour; the foot-stalks very long; the floral leaves are egg-shaped, and very large; leaves grow by threes, are linear, fleshy, and of a sea-green colour.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, brittle, grows a foot and a half high; the branches grow upright, with few smaller branches, and long.
Leaves grow by threes, are linear, pointed, spreading, furrowed, smooth, fleshy, and of a sea-green colour; the foot-stalks pressed to the stem.
Flowers terminate the branches in bunches, and grow nodding; the foot-stalks are very long, and coloured, having three coloured, egg-shaped, concave, floral leaves.
Empalement. Cup of four leaves, which are egg-shaped, coloured, and reflexed.
Blossom, nearly conical, of a dark purple, narrowed at the mouth; the segments reflexed, and tapered.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, fixed into the receptacle. Tips crested, gouty at the base, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud nearly globular, and furrowed. Shaft within the blossom, and cylinder-shaped. Summit shield-shaped.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from May, till July.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement, and Blossom.
2. The Empalement, magnified.
3. The Chives, and Pointal.
4. The Chives detached from the Pointal.
5. A Chive, magnified.
6. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit; the Summit magnified.
