Volume 3 — ERICA tetragona.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis; corollis urceolatis, axillaribus, ternis, confertis, tetragonis; concavis, luteis; foliis ternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis fruticosus, virgatus, sub-pedalis, erectus, ramosus, gracilis; rami filiformes et patentes.
Folia terna, trigona, linearia, acuta, glabra, subtus tenuissime sulcata, erecto-patentia.
Flores in axillis foliorum, plerumque terni, erecti, conferti, cum odore cucumis.
Calyx tetraphyllus, foliolis lanceolatis, ciliatis; bracteis tribus linearibus.
Corolla urceolata, lutea, tetragona, concava, ore arctata; laciniis æqualibus, acuminatis, patentibus, et reflexis.
Stamina octo, capillaria; antheris muticis inclusis.
Pistillum. Germen conicum, glabrum. Stylus linearis, sub-exertus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii ad Septembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Umbella Florum. 2. Calyx auctus. 3. Corolla lente aucta. 4. Stamina et Pistillum. 5. Anthera una aucta. 6. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 7. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips within the blossoms, which are pitcher-shaped, and grow from the axillæ of the leaves in threes, are crowded together, four-sided, concave, and yellow; leaves by threes.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem shrubby, twiggy, near a foot high, upright; branches slender, the large ones thread-shaped and spreading.
Leaves by threes, three-sided, linear, sharp and smooth, slightly furrowed beneath, and between erect and spreading.
Flowers grow from the axillæ of the leaves, mostly by threes, upright, crowded together, and smell like a cucumber.
Empalement four-leaved; the leaflets are lance-shaped and fringed, with three linear floral leaves.
Blossom pitcher-shaped, yellow, four-sided and concave, narrowed towards the mouth, the segments of which are equal, sharp-pointed, spreading, and reflexed.
Chives eight, capillary; tips beardless, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud conical and smooth. Shaft linear, just without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till September.
REFERENCE.
1. An Umbel of Flowers. 2. The Empalement magnified. 3. A Blossom magnified. 4. The Chives and Pointal. 5. A Chive magnified. 6. The Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 7. Seed-bud magnified.
