Volume 3 — ERICA obbata, var. umbellata.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris basi bicornibus, inclusis; floribus umbellatis, terminalibus, confertis; corollis ventricosis; limbo maximo; laciniis patentibus, glandulis octo fauci circumpositis; foliis quaternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, pedalis, ramosus; rami laxi, filiformes.
Folia quaterna, reflexa, rigida, ciliata, acuminata, subtus sulcata.
Flores terminales, umbellati, conferti, pedunculis brevibus, bracteis tribus lanceolatis ciliatis adpressis.
Calyx tetraphyllum; foliolis lanceolatis, ciliatis, adpressis.
Corolla ventricosa, nitidissime alba, basi quadrata, ore arctata, leviter sulcata; limbus maximus, laciniis rotundatis patentibus; glandulæ octo fauci circumpositæ.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria; antheræ inclusæ, bifidæ, basi bicornes.
Pistillum. Germen conicum, basi glandulosum. Stylus filiformis, subexertus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Maio in Augustum.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium. 2. Calyx. 3. Corolla. 4. Lacinia una Limbi aucta. 5. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unâ lente auctâ. 6. Germen et Stylus, stigmate aucto. 7. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with tips two-horned at the base, within the blossom; flowers terminating the branches in crowded umbels; blossom bellied; border large, the segments spreading, with eight glands surrounding the mouth; leaves by fours.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, a foot high, branching; the branches are loose and thread-shaped.
Leaves by fours, reflexed, harsh, fringed, sharp-pointed, and furrowed beneath.
Flowers terminate the branches in umbels crowded together, with short footstalks, having three lance-shaped fringed floral leaves pressed to the cup.
Empalement four-leaved; leaflets lance-shaped, fringed, and pressed to the blossom.
Blossom bellied, of a very shining white, squared at the base, straitened at the mouth, and slightly furrowed; border very large, the segments roundish and spreading; eight glands surrounding the mouth.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads; tips within the blossom, two-cleft, and two-horned at the base.
Pointal. Seed-vessel conical, glandular at the base. Shaft thread-shaped, nearly without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of May till August.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf. 2. The Empalement. 3. A Blossom. 4. One segment of the Border magnified. 5. The Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 6. The Seed-bud and Shaft, the summit magnified. 7. The Seed-bud magnified.
