Volume 3 — ERICA Irbyana.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris basi bicornibus, inclusis: stylo sub-exerto: floribus terminalibus: pedunculis longissimis: corollis albis, ampullaceis, viscosis: foliis ternis, trigonis, subulatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis pedalis, erectus: rami longi, sub-simplices.
Folia terna, trigona, subulata, recta: apice mucronato, supra plano, subtus carinato.
Flores terminales in umbellis quinis vel decem: cum pedunculis longissimis rubris, patentibus vel cernuis.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum: foliolis lanceolatis, carinatis, acutis, viscosis.
Corolla alba, ad basin carnea, glutinosissima, pollicaris, lucida, summatim cylindracea, ad basin inflata; ore arctata, laciniis expansis, sub-ovatis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria, tenuissima, torta: antheræ basi bicornes, apice acuminatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen ovatum, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, sub-exertus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Junii in Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium lente auctum. 2. Idem ab infera parte depictum, dissectum, et lente auctum. 3. Calyx et bracteæ. 4. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unicâ lente auctâ. 5. Pistillum et Germen, stigmate lente aucto. 6. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with tips two-horned at the base, within the blossom: shaft just without: flowers terminal: peduncles very long: blossoms white, flask-shaped, and clammy: leaves by threes, three-sided, and awl-shaped.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem a foot high, upright: branches long, and nearly simple.
Leaves by threes, three-sided, awl-shaped, and straight, with a mucronated point flat on the upper surface, and keeled beneath.
Flowers terminate the branches in umbels of five to ten flowers, with very long red footstalks, spreading or nodding.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved: leaflets lance-shaped, carinated, sharp-pointed, and viscous.
Blossom white, flesh-coloured at the base, and extremely glutinous, an inch long, and shining, cylindrical on the upper part, and swelled out at the base, narrowed at the mouth, with the segments spreading, and nearly egg-shaped.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads, very slender and twisted: tips two-horned at the base, pointed at the end, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud egg-shaped, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, and just without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from June till October.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf magnified. 2. The same shown from the under side, cut in two, and magnified. 3. The Empalement and floral leaves. 4. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 5. Pointal and Seed-bud, summit magnified. 6. Seed-bud magnified.
