ERICA Shannonea.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica antheris basi bicornibus, inclusis: stylo sub-exserto: floribus terminalibus, ampullaceis: pedunculis longissimis: foliis ternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis pedalis, erectus: rami longi, sub-simplices.
Folia terna, trigona, subulata, recta, acuta, supra plana, subtus carinata.
Flores terminales in umbellis quinis vel octonis, cum pedunculis longissimis rubris: corollis pallide carneis, glutinosissimis, magnis, ad sum mitatem cylindraceis, ad basin inflatis: ore arctato, laciniis expansis, ovatis.
Germen tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat in Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii in Septembrem.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx. 2. Stamina et Pistillum, antherâ unâ lente auctâ. 3. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath with tips two-horned at the base, within the blossom: shaft just without: flowers terminal, flask-shaped: footstalks very long: leaves by threes.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem a foot high, upright: branches long, and nearly simple.
Leaves by threes, three-sided, awl-shaped, straight and pointed, flat on the upper surface, and keeled beneath.
Flowers terminate the branches in umbels of 5 to 8, with very long red footstalks: blossoms of a pale flesh-colour, very glutinous, and large, cylindrical on the upper part, and swelled out at the base: narrowed at the mouth, with the segments spreading and egg-shaped.
Seed-bud turban-shaped and furrowed, with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from July till September.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement. 2. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 3. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.
This Erica was raised from Cape seed brought over by Niven in 1808. It is a fine addition to this extensive family, and may be increased by cuttings, but not so freely as many other species; which joined to the short period of only three years since it was first raised from seed, makes it at present rather scarce, and in but few collections. Our figure represents a plant in the nursery of Mr. Rollinson, where we found it under the specific title of Shannonea, in compliment to the Earl of Shannon.
