ERICA Andromedæflora, alba.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis: stylo sub-incluso: floribus axillaribus, declinatis: foliis ternatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis humilis, fruticosus, robustus, pedalis: rami numerosi, conferti.
Folia ternata, subulata, incurvata, robusta: petiolis longis adpressis.
Flores axillares, sub-terminales, declinati, conferti: calyx magnus, lato-ovatus, albus: corolla ovata, crassa, alba: oris laciniis erectis.
Germen tiaræforme, villosum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Martii ad Junium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla. 3. Antheræ et Pistillum, anthera una lente aucta. 4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 5. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips, within the blossom: shaft just within: flowers axillary, and bending down: leaves by threes.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem low, shrubby, and strong, a foot high: branches numerous, and crowded together.
Leaves by threes, awl-shaped, incurved, and stout, with long footstalks pressed to the branches.
Flowers grow from the axillæ of the leaves, nearly terminal, hanging down, and crowded together: empalement large, broadly egg-shaped, and white: blossom ovate, thick, and white: segments of the border straight.
Seed-bud turban-shaped, villose, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from March till June.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement. 2. A Blossom. 3. The Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 5. Seed-bud magnified.
This white-flowered variety of the E. Andromedæflora, from its hardy, dwarf, and robust character, might almost be considered as a distinct species, did not the appearance and shape of the blossoms bear out the specific title too well to admit of any alteration. The flowers are slow in growth, and of a thickish and rather tough consistence. It is a hardy green-house shrub, and blossoms mostly during the spring season.
