ERICA taxifolia.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica antheris muticis, inclusis; floribus spicato-umbellatis, terminalibus; corolla ventricosa, ore arctata, calyce colorato, fere tecta, limbo patente; foliis rigidis, ternis, trigonis, mucronatis, sexsariam imbricatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, erectus, ramosissimus; rami et ramuli patento-erecti, valde cicatrisati.
Folia terna, trigona, glabra, linearia, rigida, mucronata, sexsariam imbricata; petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.
Flores in apicibus ramulorum umbellati, numerosi, erecti; pedunculi colorati, longitudine corollarum; bracteæ duæ supra medium pedunculi, tertia vero ad basin.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis ovatis, mucronatis, concavis, membranaceis, coloratis, longitudine sere corollæ.
Corolla ventricosa, ore arctata, carnea; laciniis patentibus, mucronatis, semi ovatis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo, capillaria, curvata. Antheræ muticæ, inclusæ, flavæ.
Pistillum. Germen subrotundum, sulcatum. Stylus inclusus, filiformis. Stigma peltato-tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mensi Augusti, in Novembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx et Corolla.
2. Calyx, lente auctus.
3. Corolla.
4. Stamina, et Pistillum.
5. Stamina a Pistillo diducta, anthera una lente aucta.
6. Pistillum, auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath with beardless tips, within the blossom; the flowers terminate the branches in umbels, forming a spike; blossom swelled at the base, pinched in at the top, and almost covered by a coloured cup, with the border spreading; leaves grow by threes, harsh, three-sided, sharp-pointed, and tiled in six divisions round the stem.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, upright, very branching; the larger and smaller branches grow spreading, and upright, and are very much notched.
Leaves grow by threes, three-sided, smooth, linear, harsh, sharp-pointed, and tiled in six divisions; with very short foot-stalks, pressed to the branches.
Flowers grow at the ends of the small branches in umbels, numerous and upright; foot-stalks coloured, the length of the blossoms; two floral leaves upon the middle of the foot-stalk, and the third at its base.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved, leaflets egg-shaped, pointed, concave, skinny, and coloured, nearly the length of the blossom.
Blossom swelled at the base, narrowed at the mouth, and flesh coloured; segments spreading, pointed, and half egg-shaped.
Chives. Threads eight, hair-like, and curved. Tips beardless, within the blossom, and yellow.
Pointal. Seed-bud roundish, and furrowed. Shaft within the blossom, and thread-shaped. Summit between shield and four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from August till November.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement, and Blossom.
2. The Empalement, magnified.
3. The Blossom.
4. The Chives, and Pointal.
5. The Chives detached from the Pointal, one Tip magnified.
6. The Pointal, magnified.
