ERICA thymifolia.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris bicornibus inclusis, corollis axillaribus solitariis urceolatis, foliis ternatis cordato-ovatis ciliatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis suffruticosus, spithameus, dumosus, perflexus, ramulis filiformibus, expansis decumbentibusque, superne numerosioribus.
Folia ternata, cordato-ovata, ciliata, subtus glauca.
Flores axillares, solitarii, pedunculis basi bracteis duabus instructis.
Calyx tetraphyllus, foliolis subulatis ciliatisque.
Corolla parva, urceolata, saturate rosea, laciniis expansis, subtus concavis.
Stamina octo, capillaria, antheris bicornibus subinclusis.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme, basi glandulis melliferis instructum; stylus filiformis, exertus; stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Martii ad Julium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Pagina inferior Folii lente aucta. 2. Calyx et Corolla. 3. Calyx lente auctus. 4. Stamina et Pistillum. 5. Stamen diductum et lente auctum. 6. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 7. Germen auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with tips two-horned and within the blossom, blossoms axillary solitary and pitcher-shaped, and leaves in threes, heart-egg-shaped and ciliated.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubbyish, a span high, bushy, very much bent, with the branchlets thread-shaped, expanded and decumbent; more numerous upwards.
Leaves in threes, heart-egg-shaped, ciliated, glaucous beneath.
Flowers axillary, and solitary, with the peduncles furnished with two floral leaves at the base.
Empalement four-leaved, with the leaflets awl-shaped and ciliated.
Blossom small, pitcher-shaped, deep rose colour, with the segments expanded, and concave beneath.
Chives eight hair-like threads, tips two-horned, and just within the blossom.
Pointal. Germen turban-shaped, furnished with honey-bearing-glands at the base; shaft thread-shaped, without the blossom; summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of March till July.
REFERENCE.
1. The under side of a Leaf magnified. 2. The Empalement and Blossom. 3. The Empalement magnified. 4. The Chives and Pointal. 5. A Chive detached and magnified. 6. The Seed-bud and Pointal, with the summit magnified. 7. The Seed-bud magnified.
