ERICA Petiveriana hirsuta.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis exertis, longissimis, corollis pendulis clavatis incurvis, foliis hirsutis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, inferne ramulis numerosis.
Folia ternata, subulata, hirsuta, parum flexuosa, petiolis adpressis, juniora patula, seniora reflexa.
Flores terminales in ramulis lateralibus, 1-3. nati, penduli, incurvi, pedunculis brevibus.
Calyx duplex, læte ruber et lucens, tinctura flavedinis, exterior 3-, interior 4-phyllus, foliolis omnibus late ovatis.
Corolla clavata, incurva, uncialis, læete rubra et lucens, basi tumida quadrifida, oris laciniis incurvis filamentis adpressis.
Stamina octo, capillaria, incurva, receptaculo affixa; antheræ muticæ longissimæ exertæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme. Stylus filiformis. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret Januario in Aprilem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Inferior pars Folii lente aucta. 2. Calyx lente auctus. 3. Corolla calyce diducta. 4. Stamina et Pistillum. 5. Eadem expansa, antherâ unicâ lente auctâ. 6. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with very long beardless tips without the pendulous club-shaped incurved blossoms; and with hairy leaves.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem erect, furnished with numerous small branches downwards.
Leaves in threes, subulate, hairy, a little flexuose, with foot-stalks pressed to the branches; the younger leaves rather spreading, the older reflexed.
Flowers terminal on the small lateral branches, one to three together, pendulous, incurved, with short foot-stalks.
Empalement double, bright shining-red, tinctured with yellow, the outer three-, the inner four-leaved, with all the leaflets broad egg-shaped.
Blossom club-shaped, incurved, an inch long, bright-shining-red, swelled and quadrifid at the base, with the segments of the mouth incurved and pressed to the filaments.
Chives eight hair-like incurved threads fixed to the receptacle; tips beardless very long, and without the blossom.
Pointal. Germen turban-shaped. Shaft thread-shaped. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from January till April.
REFERENCE.
1. The under-side of a Leaf magnified. 2. The Empalement magnified. 3. A Blossom detached from the Empalement. 4. The Chives and Pointal. 5. The same spread open, with one tip magnified. 6. The Seed-bud and Pointal, with the summit magnified.
