ERICA præstans.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis: stylo sub-exerto: floribus urceolatis, terminalibus: foliis quaternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis pedalis, erectus, ramosus: rami et ramuli graciles.
Folia quaterna, linearia, erecta, obtusa.
Flores terminales, in umbellis quaternis vel octonis: pedunculis brevibus: corollis urceolatis, albis: laciniis magnis, expansis.
Germen tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Junii in Novembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx. 2. Stamina et Pistillum. 3. Stamina et Pistillum, anthera una lente aucta. 4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, within the blossom: shaft just without: flowers pitcher-shaped and terminal: leaves by fours.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem a foot high, upright, shrubby: large and small branches slender.
Leaves by fours, linear, upright, and blunt-ended.
Flowers terminate the branches in umbels of four to eight: footstalks short: blossom pitcher-shaped, and white: segments of the border large and spreading.
Seed-bud turban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from June till November.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement. 2. The Chives and Pointal. 3. The Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.
This Erica, although a distinct species, does not possess any prominent feature sufficient to distinguish it from many others; we have therefore retained the specific title of præstans (by which it is known to some cultivators), although it is an appellation to which the plant has but little claim compared with the numerous beautiful species of which this very extensive Genus is composed. It was first raised from seed brought from the Cape of Good Hope by Mr. Niven. It flowers from the end of spring till late in autumn.
