Volume 3 — ERICA nitida.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis; corollis crystallinis, albidis, nitidis; foliis ternis, linearibus, obtusis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, sesquipedalis, erectus; ramulis numerosis.
Folia terna, obtusa, linearia, subtus sulcata, erecto-patentia.
Flores in ramulis terminales, umbellati, terni vel quini, cernui; pedunculi breves, bracteis tribus calyciformibus, adpressis.
Calyx tetraphyllus; foliolis spathulatis, patentibus, viscosis, adpressis.
Corolla ovata, inflata, crystallina, alba, nitida, magnitudine pisi; laciniis revolutis.
Stamina. Filamenta octo, capillaria; antheræ cristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme, sulcatum, pilosum. Stylus sub-exsertus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii in Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium auctum. 2. Calyx lente auctus. 3. Corolla. 4. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unicâ lente auctâ. 5. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 6. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips, within the blossom, of a crystalline white, and shining; leaves by threes, linear, and obtuse.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, a foot and a half high, upright; with numerous small branches.
Leaves by threes, obtuse, linear, furrowed beneath, and between erect and spreading.
Flowers terminate the small branches in umbels of from three to five, and nodding; footstalks short, with three floral leaves of the shape of the cup, and pressed to it.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved; the leaflets are spathula-shaped, spreading, clammy, and pressed to the blossom.
Blossom egg-shaped, and swelled out, of a crystalline white, shining, and of the size of a pea; the segments of the border are reflexed.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; tips crested, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped, furrowed, and hairy. Shaft just without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till October.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf magnified. 2. The Empalement magnified. 3. A Blossom. 4. The Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 5. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 6. Seed-bud magnified.
