ERICA mammosa.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris aristatis, inclusis; stylo subincluso; floribus verticillatis, pendulis, ventricoso-cylindricis, supra basin constrictis, profunde violaceo-purpureis; foliis quaternis, linearibus, glabris.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis simplex, fruticosus, erectus, sesquipedalis; rami verticillati, raro ramulosi, erecti.
Folia quaterna, linearia, glabra, recta; seniora patentia, juniora erecta, subtus sulcata; petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.
Flores sub-pollicares, in summitate ramorum verticillati, penduli; pedunculi longissimi, bracteis tribus, minutis, remotis, instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis lato-ovatis., acutis, marginibus membranaceis, apicibus coloratis, adpressis.
Corolla ventricoso-cylindrica, apice attenuata, ad basin constricta, profunde purpurea; laciniis minutis, erectis, obtusis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria. Antheræ aristatæ;, inclusæ,
Pistillum. Germen turbinatum. Stylus filiformis, sub-inclusus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii in Novembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx lente auctus.
2. Calyx et Corolla.
3. Stamina a Pistillo diducta, antherâ unâ lente auctâ.
4. Germen, Stylus, et Stigma, stigmate aucto.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with bearded tips, within the blossom; shaft just within the blossom; flowers grow in whorls, hanging down, of a swelled cylinder shape, pinched in at the base, and of a deep blue purple; leaves grow by fours, are linear, and smooth.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem simple, shrubby, upright, a foot and a half high; branches grow in whorls, seldom making smaller branches, and upright.
Leaves grow by fours, linear, smooth, and straight; the older ones spread out, the younger grow upright, and are furrowed beneath; having very short foot-stalks, which are pressed to the stem.
Flowers are near an inch long, grow in whorls at the top of the branches, hanging down; foot-stalks very long, having three small floral leaves at a distance from the cup.
Empalement. Cup of four leaves, which are of a broad egg-shape, pointed, having the margins skinny, the ends coloured, and are pressed to the blossom.
Blossom of a swelled cylinder-shape, tapered at the end, and pinched in at the base, of a deep purple; the segments of the border are very small, upright, and blunt.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads. Tips bearded, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped. Shaft thread-shaped, and just within the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from July till November.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement magnified.
2. The Empalement and Blossom.
3. The Chives detached from the Pointal, one tip magnified.
4. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit, the summit magnified.
