ERICA spuria.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis; stylo exserto; corollis sub-cylindricis, dilute purpureis; laciniis revolutis; floribus terminalibus, sub-quaternis; foliis quaternis, sub-ciliatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, pedalis, ramosus; ramuli numerosi, sub-erecti.
Folia quaterna, linearia, sub-ciliata, subtus sulcata; petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.
Flores in apicibus ramulorum sessiles, sub-quaterni; pedunculi brevissimi, bracteis tribus minutis instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis subulatis, carinatis, adpressis.
Corolla sub-cylindrica, pollicaris, dilute purpurea; laciniis sub-ovatis, acutis, revolutis; ore parum arctato.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, corollâ breviora; antheræ muticæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen ovatum, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, exsertus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Aprili in Augustum.
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 blossom; shaft without; blossoms nearly cylindrical, of a light purple; segments of the border rolled back; flowers terminate the smaller branches, mostly by fours; leaves grow by fours, a little hairy at the edges.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, grows a foot high, and branching; the small branches are numerous, and nearly upright.
Leaves grow by fours, are linear, a little hairy, furrowed beneath; with very short foot-stalks pressed to the branches.
Flowers grow at the end of the small branches, generally by fours, and sitting close upon them; footstalks very short, having three very small floral leaves.
Empalement. Cup of four leaves, which are awl-shaped, keeled, and pressed to the blossom.
Blossom nearly cylindrical, an inch long, and of a light purple; segments of the border nearly egg-shaped, sharp-pointed, and rolled back; the mouth a little narrowed.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, shorter than the blossom; tips beardless, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud egg-shaped and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, and without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of April till August.
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 Summit, magnified.
