ERICA princeps.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis inclusis, foliis quaternis ciliatis et aristatis, floribus terminalibus umbellatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus subpedalis, ramosus, ramis erectis.
Folia quaterna, recurva, late linearia, ciliata et aristata, subtus sulcata.
Flores speciosi, terminales, in umbellis nutantibus 6-10-floris; pedunculi colorati, bracteis tribus instructi.
Calyx tetraphyllus, foliolis lineari-lanceolatis, carinatis, ciliatisque.
Corolla ovato-clavata, inflata, lævigata, læte rubicunda, ore arctata, laciniis subrotundis revolutis.
Stamina octo, capillaria; antheræ muticæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme, sulcatum; stylus paulo inclusus, filiformis; stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a Maio ad Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium lente auctum. 2. Calyx lente auctus. 3. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unicâ diductâ et lente auctâ. 4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 5. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips within the blossom, leaves in fours, ciliated and aristated, and terminal umbelled flowers.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem near a foot high, branched, with the branches erect.
Leaves in fours, recurved, broad-linear, ciliated and aristated, and furrowed beneath.
Flowers showy, terminal, in nodding umbels of 6 to 10 flowers; peduncles coloured, with three floral leaves.
Empalement four-leaved, with the leaflets linear-lanced, keeled and ciliated.
Blossom ovate-club-shaped, inflated, polished, and of a glowing red colour, narrowed at the mouth, with roundish segments rolled back.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; tips beardless, within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped, furrowed; shaft just within the blossom, thread-shaped; summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from May to October.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf magnified. 2. The Empalement magnified. 3. The Chives and Pointal, with one tip detached and magnified. 4. Seed-bud and Pointal, with the summit magnified. 5. The Seed-bud magnified.
