Volume 3 — ERICA lævis.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris aristatis, inclusis: foliis ternis, glabris, linearibus, obtusis; corollis campanulatis, albis, tenuibus; ramis numerosis, gracilibus.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis pedalis et ultra; ramis et ramulis filiformibus, numerosis.
Folia terna, adscendentia, glabra, linearia, obtusa; petiolis brevibus.
Flores in ramos umbellis parvis irregularibus; pedunculis incarnatis, ad basin bracteis tribus parvis instructis.
Calyx tetraphyllus: foliolis lanceolatis, serrulatis, adpressis.
Corolla campanulata, alba, tenuis; oris laciniis æqualibus, patentibus.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria. Antheræ aristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme, purpureum, sulcatum, ad basin nectariferum. Stylus filiformis. Stigma concavum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Martii in Julium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx lente auctus. 2. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unâ lente auctâ. 3. Germen et Pistillum lente aucta.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with bearded tips, within the blossom; leaves by threes, smooth, linear, and blunt; blossom bell-shaped, white, and thin; branches numerous and slender.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem a foot or more high; the large and small branches are thread-shaped and numerous.
Leaves by threes, ascending, smooth, linear, and blunt; footstalks short.
Flowers grow on the branches in small irregular umbels; footstalks flesh-coloured, and furnished at the base with three small floral leaves.
Empalement four-leaved; leaflets lance-shaped, finely sawed, and pressed to the cup.
Blossom bell-shaped, white, and thin; segments of the border equal, and spreading.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads: tips bearded, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped, purple, and furrowed, with honey-cups at the base. Shaft thread-shaped. Summit hollow.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from March till July.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement magnified. 2. The Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 3. Seed-bud and Pointal magnified.
