ERICA verticillata.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris aristatis, inclusis; corollis pollicaribus, cernuis, ventricoso-cylindracis, saturate rubris, pedunculis longissimis; foliis quaternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, bipedalis, basi simplicissimus, rami verticillati, subsimplices, erecto-patentes.
Folia quaterna, glabra, lineari, acuta, subtus sulcata, recta.
Flores in apicibus ramorum verticillati, nutantes, conferti; pedunculi longissimi, bracteis tribus ad basin instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis lato-ovatis, acuminatis, apice dilute rubris, basi viridis.
Corolla ventricoso-cylindrica, pollicaris, ad basin-tetragona, profunde costata; ore arctata, tenuissime laciniata; saturate rubentia.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria antheræ aristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen globosum, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis longitudine corollæ. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mensi Julii, in Novembrem.
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 bearded tips, within the blossoms, which are an inch long, hanging downward, of the shape of an inflated cylinder, deep red, and very long foot-stalks; leaves growing by fours.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, grows two feet high, simple at the bottom, the branches growing in whorls, nearly simple, upright, and spreading.
Leaves grow by fours, smooth, linear, sharp-pointed, furrowed on the under part, and growing straight out from the stem.
Flowers grow in whorls, at the upper part of the branches, hanging downward, and close together, with long foot-stalks, that have three floral leaves just at their base.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved, which are of a broad-oval shape, sharp-pointed, the upper part of a light red, the bottom of a green colour.
Blossom is of a swelled-cylindrical shape, an inch long, four-cornered at the base, and deeply ribbed; the mouth is narrowed, and very slightly cut; of a deep red colour.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; the tips are bearded, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-vessel round, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from July, till November.
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.
