ERICA mollis.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris aristatis, inclusis: floribus in umbellis axillaribus, globosis, pilosis: foliis quaternis: caule fruticoso.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis pedalis, fruticosus, erectus; ramulis adscendentibus.
Folia quaterna, linearia, obtusa, pilosa, patentia, supra plana, subtus sulcata.
Flores in umbellis, axillares; corolla globosa, purpurea, pilosa: laciniis rotundatis, patentibus, æqualibus.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julio in Septembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Folium lente auctum. 2. Calyx lente auctus. 3. Anthera una lente aucta. 4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 5. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with bearded tips, within the blossom: flowers grow in umbels from the axillæ of the leaves, globular, and hairy: leaves by fours: stem shrubby.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem a foot high, shrubby and upright: branches ascending.
Leaves by fours, linear, obtuse, hairy, and spreading, flat on their upper surface and furrowed beneath.
Flowers grow in umbels from the axillæ of the leaves: blossom globular, purple, and hairy: segments of the border rounded, spreading, and equal.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till September.
REFERENCE.
1. A Leaf magnified. 2. The Empalement magnified. 3. One Chive magnified. 4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 5. Seed-bud magnified.
The Erica mollis is a compact little shrub, with lively purple flowers: both flowers and leaves are covered with short hairs, which give it a soft appearance, although to the touch the hairs are more hispid than downy. Our figure is from a plant at Mr. Lee’s Nursery.
