ERICA ramentacea.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis; corollis globosis, umbellis confertis, rubro-purpureis, pedunculis longissimis, coloratis; foliis quaternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, spithamæus, ramosissimus, rami et ramuli filiformes, divaricato-patentes.
Folia quaterna, linearia, subtus sulcata, glabra, acuminata.
Flores plures, terminales, umbellati, conferti; pedunculi purpurei, longissimi, capillares, bracteis tribus instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis subulatis, coloratis.
Corolla globosa, rubro-purpurea, ore contracto, laciniis minutis, reflexis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, receptaculo inserta; Antheris cristatis, inclusis.
Pistillum. Germen globosum, sulcatum; Stylus filiformis sub-exsertus. Stigma tetragonum, pubescens.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Augusti in Decembrem.
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, whose tips are crested, and within the blossoms, which are globe-shaped, growing in close bunches, of a reddish-purple colour, having very long foot-stalks coloured; the leaves grow by fours.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, a span high, very much branched; the larger and smaller branches are thread-shaped, and spread into various directions.
Leaves grow by fours, are linear, furrowed, underneath, smooth, and pointed.
The Flowers are numerous, terminating the branches in close bunches; the foot-stalks are purple, very long, hair-like, and have three floral leaves.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved, which are awl-shaped, and coloured.
Blossom globe-shaped, of a reddish purple, the mouth contracted, the segments of which are very small, and bent back.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads fixed into the receptacle; the tips crested, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-vessel globe-shaped, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, just without the blossom. Summit four-cornered, and downy.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from August till December.
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.
