ERICA serratifolia.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis sub-exsertis, corollis sub-cylindricis, luteo-aurantiis, sub-pollicaribus; foliis quaternis, rigidis, acutis, serratis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, rigidus, pedalis, ramosus; ramuli frequentissimi, breves.
Folia quaterna, rigida, serrata, acuta, nitida, trigona, patentia, apice incurvata; petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.
Flores terminales, in apicibus ramulorum bini vel terni, sub-cernui; pedunculi breves, bracteis tribus instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis lanceolatis, serratis, reflexis.
Corolla sub-pollicaria, sub-cylindrica, luteo-aurantia, apice paulo contracta; oris laciniis reflexis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria; antheræ sub-exsertæ, muticæ.
Pistillum. Germen cylindricum. Stylus filiformis, exsertus. Stigma tetragonum.
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, antherâ unâ lente auctâ.
5. Stylus et Stigma lente aucti.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips just out of the blossoms, which are nearly cylindrical, of an orange yellow, almost an inch long; the leaves grow by fours, are harsh, sharp, and sawed at the edges.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, harsh, grows a foot high, and much branched; the smaller branches are numerous, and short.
Leaves grow by fours, are harsh, sawed, sharp, shining, three-sided, and spreading, the point bent inwards; with very short floral leaves pressed to the stem.
Flowers are terminal, two or three together at the end of the smaller branches, bending a little downward; the footstalks are short, having three floral leaves.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved; the leaflets are spear-shaped, sawed, and bent outward.
Blossom near an inch long, almost cylindrical, orange yellow, a little contracted at the top; the segments of the mouth are bent back.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; tips nearly without the blossom, and beardless.
Pointal. Seed-vessel cylindrical. Shaft thread-shaped, and without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
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.
