Volume 3 — ERICA vernex.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis: floribus ternis, bicoloribus, viscosis, cernuis, sub-globosis: foliis ternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis erectus, sesquipedalis: ramulis ternis, verticillatis.
Folia ternata, sub-trigona, supra plana, subtus sulco exarata: petiolis longis.
Flores laterales, plerumque ternati, cernui, speciosi: pedunculi colorati, bracteis tribus coloratis instructi.
Calyx tetraphyllus: foliolis ovatis, coloratis, adpressis.
Corolla sub-globosa, glutinosissima, et lucida, colore aureo: laciniis oris erectis, saturate viridibus.
Stamina. Filamenta octo capillaria. Antheræ cristatæ, inclusæ.
Pistillum. Germen tiaræforme, sulcatum. Stylus filiformis, sub-inclusus. Stigma tetragonum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Januarii in Maium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Inferior pars Folii lente aucta. 2. Calyx. 3. Stamina et Pistillum, lente aucta. 4. Germen et Pistillum. 5. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips within the blossom: flowers grow by threes, are two-coloured, clammy, nodding, and nearly round: leaves by threes.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem upright, a foot and a half high: the branches grow by threes in whorls.
Leaves by threes, nearly three-sided, flat on their upper surface, and deeply furrowed beneath: footstalks long.
Flowers grow sideways mostly by threes, nodding and showy: footstalks coloured, and furnished with three coloured floral leaves.
Empalement four-leaved: the leaflets are ovate, coloured, and pressed to the blossom.
Blossom nearly round, very glutinous, and shining, of a gold colour: the segments of the border are upright, and of a deep green colour.
Chives eight hair-like threads. Tips crested, and within the blossom.
Pointal. Seed-bud turban-shaped, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, and just within the blossom. Summit four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from January till May.
REFERENCE.
1. The under side of a Leaf magnified. 2. The Empalement. 3. The Chives and Pointal magnified. 4. Seed-bud and Pointal. 5. Seed-bud magnified.
