Volume 3 — ERICA elegans.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis inclusis, corollis terminalibus, capitatis, ventricosis, foliis ternatis trigonis glaucis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis robustus, fruticosus, pedalis, ramosus, ramulis patulis, cortice fuscescente.
Folia ternata, trigona, linearia, glauca, parum incurvata, sub-erecta.
Flores capitati, terminates, cernui; pedunculi colorati, bracteis tribus etiam coloratis instructi, et involucro polyphyllo; foliolis involucri ovatis, acutis, saturate roseis, apicibus viridibus.
Calyx tetraphyllus, foliolis ovatis, acutis, concavis, saturate roseis.
Corolla deorsum ventricosa, superne arctata, basi carnea, ore viridi, laciniis 4, semiovatis, obtusis.
Stamina octo, capillaria; antheræ cristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme; stylus filiformis, inclusus; stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Novembre ad Februarium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx et bracteæ. 2. Corolla. 3. Stamina et Pistillum. 4. Eadem expansa. 5. Stamen lente auctum. 6. Pistillum, stigmate diducto, lenteque aucto. 7. Germen auctum. 8. Ramulus cum involucro florum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips within the blossom, blossoms terminal, headed, ventricose, leaves in threes three-sided and glaucous.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem stout, shrubby, a foot high, branched, with the branches spreading, and a brownish bark.
Leaves in threes, three-sided, linear, glaucous, a little incurved, and rather erect.
Flowers headed, terminal, cernuous; peduncles coloured, furnished with three floral leaves also coloured, and a many-leaved involucrum; with its little leaves ovate, acute, deep rose-coloured, with green points.
Empalement four-leaved, with the leaflets egg-shaped, acute, concave, and of a deep rose-colour.
Blossom bellied below, contracted above, flesh-coloured at the base, with a green mouth, with four obtuse, half-ovate segments.
Chives eight, hair-like; tips crested, within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped; shaft thread-shaped, within the blossom; summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from November till February.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement and floral leaves. 2. The Blossom. 3. The Chives and Pointal. 4. The same expanded. 5. A Chive magnified. 6. The Pointal, with the summit detached and magnified. 7. The Germen magnified. 8. A Branch with the involucrum of the flowers.
