ERICA lucida.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis subinclusis, floribus terminalibus ternatis campanulatis, foliis itidem ternatis lucidisque.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, strictus, gracilis, bipedalis; rami plerumque ternati, patentes, itidem graciles, ramulis sæpe oppositis.
Folia ternata, subulata, erecta, brevissime petiolata, lævia, lucida, viridia, sed sæpe tincturâ fuscedinis.
Flores terminales in umbellulis trifloris; pedunculi circiter longitudinem florum, superne bracteis tribus, coloratis, ciliatisque, instructi.
Calyx tetraphyllus, foliolis late ovatis, acutis, ciliatisque.
Corolla breviter campanulata, laciniis patulis, pallide carneis, et lucidis.
Stamina filamenta octo, capillaria; antheræ cristatæ, subinclusæ.
Pistillum, germen tiaræforme; stylus columnaris, basi dilatatus, antheras superans.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Aprili in Junium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Pagina inferior folii lente aucta. 2. Flos. 3. Calyx lente auctus, cum pedunculo. 4. Corolla lente aucta. 5. Stamina et Pistillum lente aucta. 6. Pistillum lente auctum, diductum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips just within the blossom, flowers terminal in threes bell-shaped, leaves likewise in threes and shining.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, streight, slender, two feet high; branches chiefly in threes, spreading, also slender, with the lesser branches often opposite.
Leaves in threes, awl-shaped, erect, very shortly petiolate, smooth, shining, green, but often with a tincture of brown.
Flowers terminal in little three-flowered umbels; footstalks about the length of the flowers, furnished above with three coloured, ciliated, floral leaves.
Empalement four-leaved, with the little leaves broad egg-shaped, sharp-pointed and ciliated.
Blossom shortly bell-shaped, with rather spreading segments, of a pale, shining, flesh colour.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; tips crested, just within the blossom.
Pointal, seed-bud turban-shaped; shaft columnar, dilated at the base, higher than the tips.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from April till June.
REFERENCE.
1. The under-side of a leaf magnified. 2. A Flower. 3. The Empalement magnified, with the peduncle. 4. The Blossom magnified. 5. The Chives and Pointal magnified. 6. The Pointal magnified, detached.
