ERICA lutea.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis; corollis ovato-acuminatis, luteis; foliis oppositis, triquetris, adpressis.

DESCRIPTIO.

Caulis laxus, filiformis, gracilis, ad basin ramosus; ramuli conferti.

Folia opposita, linearia, adpressa, triquetra, supra concava, subtus carinata, sulcata, nitida; petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.

Flores plures, conglomerati, subterminales; pedunculi capillares, lutei; bracteis binis.

Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis ovatis, acuminatis, luteis, glabris.

Corolla lutea, ovato-acuminata, ore arctata; limbo quadrilobo, subreflexo.

Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, corolla dimidio breviora, apice recurvata, receptaculo inserta. Antheræ muticæ, inclusæ, parvæ.

Pistillum. Germen cylindricum, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, purpureus, filamentis duplo longior. Stigma tetragonum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a Septembre, in Maium.

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, with beardless tips, within the blossoms; which are of a pointed oval shape, and yellow, the leaves grow opposite in pairs, are three-sided, and pressed to the stem.

DESCRIPTION.

Stem flexible, thread-shaped, and slender, branching to the bottom; the branches crowded together.

The Leaves grow opposite in pairs, are linear, pressed to the stem, three-sided, concave on the upper, and keel-shaped on the under surface, furrowed, and shining; having very short leaf-stems pressed to the branches.

Flowers are numerous, close together, and nearly terminating the branches; the foot-stalks are hair-like, and yellow, having two floral leaves.

Empalement. Cup four-leaved, leaflets oval, pointed, yellow, and smooth.

The Blossom yellow, of a pointed oval shape, compressed at the mouth; having a slightly reflexed, four-lobed border.

Chives. Eight hair-like threads, half the length of the blossom, bent back at the point, and fixed into the receptacle. Tips beardless, within the blossom, and small.

Pointal. Seed-vessel cylindrical, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, purple, and twice as long as the chives. Summit four-cornered.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from September, till May.

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.