ERICA bicolor.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis inclusis, floribus tubulosis terminalibus patulisque in ramulis lateralibus, foliis pubescentibus ternatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis bipedalis, flexuoso-erectus, ramis paucioribus, ramulis numerosis erectis pubescentibus.
Folia ternata, obtuse-subulata, paululum incurvata, villosa, subtus sulcata.
Flores tubulosi, terminales in ramulis lateralibus, in fasciculis trifloris, sub-patulis.
Calyx duplex, dense ciliatus, coloratus, exterior 3-phyllus, foliolis subulatis, adpressis, interior tetraphyllus, longior.
Corolla uncialis, inferne rubro-purpurea, superne viridis, laciniis minime recurvatis.
Filamenta octo capillaria; antheræ muticæ, inclusæ, subfuscæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme; stylus filiformis, apice hamatus, corolla longior; stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Februarii ad Aprilem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Inferior pars Folii lente aucta. 2. Calyx cum Corollà. 3. Calyx lente auctus. 4. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unicâ lente auctâ. 5. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 6. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips within the blossom, tubular rather spreading flowers terminating the lateral branches, and downy leaves in threes.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem two feet high, flexuose-erect, with few large branches, and numerous erect downy small ones.
Leaves in threes, obtusely awl-shaped, a little incurved, villose, and furrowed beneath.
Flowers tubular, terminal on the little branches, in three-flowered bunches, which spread a little.
Empalement double, densely ciliated, coloured, outer three-leaved, with the leaflets awl-shaped and pressed to the inner, which is four-leaved and longer.
Blossom an inch long, the lower part red-purple, the upper green, with the segments very slightly bent back.
Chives eight hair-like threads, tips beardless, within the blossom, brownish.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped; shaft thread-shaped, hooked at the point, longer than the blossom; summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from February till April.
REFERENCE.
1. The under-side of a Leaf magnified. 2. The Calyx with the Corolla. 3. The Calyx magnified. 4. The Stamina and Style, with one tip magnified. 5. The Seed-bud and Pointal, with the summit magnified. 6. The Seed-bud magnified.
