ERICA Nivenia.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica antheris basi bicornibus, exsertis; corollis subturbinatis, costatis, purpureis, laciniis revolutis; foliolis calycinis apice barbatis; floribus terminalibus, umbellatis; foliis ternis, lato-linearibus, obtusis, marginibus hispidis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, palmaris, ramosus; rami et ramuli divaricati, patentes.
Folia terna, lato-linearia, obtusa, margine pilis longissimis obsita, subtus sulcata, patentia.
Flores terminales, umbellati; pedunculi longissimi, capillares, bracteis tribus foliolis calycis similibus instructi.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis spathulatis, denticulatis, viscosis, apice barbatis.
Corolla subturbinata, costata, fauce parum arctata, purpurea; laciniis revolutis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, torta. Antheræ bicornutæ, exsertæ, nigræ, lineariæ.
Pistillum. Germen ovale, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, parum curvatus, exsersus. Stigma obsoletum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a Februario in Junium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium. 2. Flos. 3. Calyx, auctus. 4. Stamina et Pistillum, auctum. 5. Stamina a Pistillo diducta, anthera una lente aucta. 6. Pistillum, auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath with tips two-horned at the base, without the blossom; blossoms nearly top-shaped, ribbed, purple, segments rolled back; leaflets of the cup bearded at the tip; flowers terminate the branches in umbels; leaves grow by threes, broadly linear, blunt, margins with strong hairs.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, a hand high, very branching; the large and small branches grow straddling, and spreading.
Leaves grow by threes, broadly linear, blunt, beset with long hairs at the edge, furrowed beneath, and spreading.
Flowers terminate the branches in umbels; foot-stalks very long, hair-like, with three floral leaves like the leaflets of the cup on them.
Empalement. Cup three-leaved, leaflets spathula-shaped, slightly toothed, clammy, and bearded at the point.
Blossom nearly top-shaped, ribbed, a little drawn in at the mouth, and purple; segments rolled back.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, twisted. Tips two-horned, without the blossom, black, linear.
Pointal. Seed-bud oval, furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, a little curved, and without the blossom. Summit obsolete.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from February till June.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf. 2. A Flower. 3. The Empalement, magnified. 4. The Chives and Pointal, magnified. 5. The Chives detached from the Pointal, one tip magnified. 6. The Pointal, magnified.
