Volume 3 — ERICA aspera.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis; corollis tubulato-ventricosis, setis densissime circumsessis, luteis; foliis quaternis, rigidis, aculeatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, bipedalis. Rami pauci; ramuli numerosi, simplices.
Folia quaterna, lanceolata, aculeata, subtus sulco exarata, petiolis adpressis.
Flores in ramulis terminales, umbellati, terni vel seni, cernui; pedunculi brevissimi, bracteis tribus, hispidis, subulatis, adpressis.
Calyx tetraphyllum; foliolis hispidis, canaliculatis, lanceolatis.
Corolla tubulato-ventricosa, setis densissime circumsessa, pollicaria, ore obsolete quadrifida.
Stamina. Filamenta octo, capillaria; antheræ muticæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme, villosum, albicans. Stylus filiformis. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Octobris in Februarium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium lente auctum. 2. Pagina inferior folii lente aucta. 3. Calyx lente auctus. 4. Stamina diducta, antherâ unicâ lente auctâ. 5. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 6. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, within the blossoms, which are of an inflated tubular shape, closely beset with bristles, and of a yellow colour; leaves by fours, harsh, and prickly.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, two feet high; branches few, the small branches are numerous and simple.
Leaves grow by fours, are lance-shaped, prickly, and deeply furrowed beneath, foot-stalks pressed to the stem.
Flowers terminate the small branches in umbels of from three to six, nodding; peduncles very short, furnished with three floral leaves, hispid, awl-shaped, and pressed to the cup.
Empalement four-leaved; the leaflets are hispid, channelled, and lance-shaped.
Blossom of an inflated tubular form, closely beset with bristles, an inch long; the mouth is slightly divided into four segments.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; tips beardless, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-vessel turban-shaped, hairy, and whitish. Shaft thread-shaped. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from October till February.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf magnified. 2. The under side of a leaf magnified. 3. The Empalement magnified. 4. The Chives detached, one tip magnified. 5. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 6. Seed-bud magnified.
