ERICA umbellata.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis exertis, corollis umbellatis globoso-conicis, laciniis erectis, foliis ternis brevibus.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, flexuoso-erectus, ramulis filiformibus, patulis.
Folia ternata, patula, perbrevia, linearia, obtusa, subtus sulcata.
Flores umbellati, terminales, 3-8 in singulâ umbellâ, pedunculis filiformibus, fere bilinearibus, lente pubescentibus.
Calyx duplex, adpressus, exterior minor, triphyllus, superior tetraphyllus, foliolis viridibus, dorso sulcatis.
Corolla globoso-conica, pallide rubro-purpurea, laciniis erectis, subrotundis.
Stamina octo, capillaria, receptaculo inserta; antheræ muticæ, exertæ, fuscæ.
Pistillum. Germen ovato-oblongum, sulcatum; stylus filiformis, corollâ duplo longior, antherasque longe superans; stigma tetragonum, rubrofuscum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Aprili in Julium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx cum pedunculo lente aucto. 2. Stamina et Pistillum, a corollâ diducta, lente aucta. 3. Pistillum et Germen, stigmate lente aucto. 4. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips without the blossom, blossoms umbellated globose-conic, with erect segments, leaves in threes and short.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, flexuose-erect, with the branches thread-shaped and a little spreading.
Leaves in threes, rather spreading, very short, linear, blunt, furrowed beneath.
Flowers umbelled, terminal, 3 to 8, in each umbel, with peduncles thread-shaped, nearly two lines long, and pubescent when magnified.
Empalement double, outer less, three-leaved, upper four-leaved, the little leaves green, and furrowed on the back.
Blossom globose-conic, pale red-purple, with the segments erect, and roundish.
Chives. Eight, hair-like, inserted into the receptacle, tips beardless, without the blossom, brown.
Pointal. Seed-bud egg-oblong, furrowed; shaft thread-shaped, twice as long as the blossom and far surpassing the tips; summit four-cornered, red-brown.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from April till July.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement with the peduncle magnified. 2. The Chives and Pointal, detached from the blossom, magnified. 3. The Pointal and Seed-bud, with the summit magnified. 4. The Seed-bud magnified.
