Volume 3 — ERICA Andromedæflora.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis; floribus axillaribus, sub-terminalibus, declinatis; corollis ovatis, magnis, incarnatis; foliis ternatis, subulatis, acutis; caulis erectus; rami verticillati.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, gracilis: ramis superioribus brevibus: inferioribus longioribus, verticillatis.
Folia ternata, sub-trigona, subulata, arcuata, acuta, supra plana, subtus sulcata.
Flores axillares, sub-terminales; ramis superioribus brevissimis spicæ formam exhibentibus; ramis ad basin plantæ longis, verticillatis.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum; foliolis lato-ovatis, acutis, coloratis, magnis, adpressis.
Corolla ovata, basi inflata, magna, et incarnata; laciniis rectis, rotundatis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo, plana; antheræ cristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen conicum, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, inclusus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Martio in Junium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla. 3. Eadem expansa. 4. Stamina et Pistillum. 5. Stamen unicum lente auctum. 6. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 7. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips within the blossom; flowers grow from the axillæ of the leaves, nearly terminal, and bending downwards; blossom egg-shaped, large and flesh-coloured; leaves by threes, awl-shaped, and pointed; stem upright; branches whorled.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, slender: the upper branches short; those below are longer, and grow in whorls.
Leaves by threes, nearly three-sided, awl-shaped, bowed, and pointed, flat on their upper surface, and furrowed beneath.
Flowers grow from the insertion of the leaves, nearly terminal. The branches on the upper part are very short, and bear the appearance of a spike. The branches on the lower part of the plant are long, and whorled.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved; leaflets are broadly egg-shaped, pointed, coloured, large, and pressed to the blossom.
Blossom egg-shaped, swelled at the base, large, and flesh-coloured; the segments are straight out, and rounded.
Chives. Eight threads, flat; tips crested, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud conical, furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, and within the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from March till June.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement. 2. A Blossom. 3. The same spread open. 4. The Chives and Pointal. 5. A Chive magnified. 6. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 7. Seed-bud magnified.
