ERICA rubens.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis inclusis, foliis quaternis, corollis late ovatis terminalibus.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, suberectus, ramis patentibus, vel subinde pendulis.
Folia quaterna, erecta, linearia, glabra, subtus sulcata, petiolis adpressis, brevibus.
Flores terminales, in umbellis nutantibus, vel cernuis, 3-8-floris; pedunculi longiusculi, tri-bracteati.
Calyx tetraphyllus, foliolis late ovatis, et longe acuminatis.
Corolla late ovata, glabra, rubro-purpurea, laciniis obtusis.
Stamina filamenta octo, capillaria; antheræ cristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme, sulcatum; stylus paulo inclusus.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Junii ad Septembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium lente auctum. 2. Calyx lente auctus, 3. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unicâ diductâ lente auctâ. 4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 5. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips within the blossom, leaves in fours, and broad-egg-shaped terminal blossoms.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, nearly upright, with branches spreading, or sometimes drooping.
Leaves in fours, erect, linear, smooth, furrowed beneath, with short foot-stalks pressed to the branches.
Flowers terminal in nodding or cernuous umbels, of from three to eight flowers; the peduncles longish, and furnished with three floral leaves.
Empalement four-leaved, with the little leaves broad-egg-shaped, and much acuminated.
Blossom broad-egg-shaped, smooth, red-purple, with obtuse segments.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; tips crested, within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped, furrowed; shaft just within the blossom.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from June to September.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf magnified. 2. The Empalement magnified. 3. The Chives and Pointal, with one tip detached and magnified. 4. The Seed-bud and Pointal, with the summit magnified. 5. The Seed-bud magnified.
