Volume 3 — ERICA Swainsonia.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, sub-inclusis: floribus in umbellis terminalibus: foliis quinis vel senis, confertis, erectis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, erectus, pedalis et ultra: ramulis verticillatis.
Folia quina vel sena, obtusa, erecta, conferta, supra plana, subtus sulcata.
Flores ramos terminant in umbellis: pedunculis brevibus, bracteis tribus adpressis.
Calyx. Perianthium tetraphyllum: foliolis lanceolatis calyci adpressis.
Corolla sub-cylindrica, pollicaris, miniata: laciniis ovatis, patentibus.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria: antheræ muticæ, sub-inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen oblongum, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis glanduliferis. Stylus filiformis. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret in mensibus autumnalibus.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx. 2. Stamina à Pistillo diducta: antherâ unâ lente auctâ. 3. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips just within the blossoms: flowers grow in terminal umbels: leaves by fives or sixes, crowded, and upright.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, upright, a foot or more high: the small branches grow in whorls.
Leaves by fives or sixes, obtuse, erect, and crowded, flat on their upper surface, and furrowed beneath.
Flowers terminate the branches in umbels: footstalks short, with three floral leaves pressed to them.
Empalement. Cup four-leaved: leaflets lance-shaped, and pressed to the cup.
Blossom nearly cylindrical, an inch long, and of a reddish colour: segments ovate, and spreading.
Chives. Eight hair-like threads: tips beardless, and just within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud oblong, with glandular nectaries at the base. Shaft thread-shaped. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers in the autumnal months.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement. 2. The Chives detached from the Pointal, one tip magnified. 3. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.
