ERICA suaveolens.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica antheris muticis inclusis: floribus racemosis: foliis sparsis: caule fruticoso, erecto.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis sesquipedalis, erectus, ramosus: ramulis simplicibus.
Folia quina vel sena, numerosa, sparsa, linearia, acuta, adscendentia.
Flores in apicibus ramorum, subterminales et racemosi: corolla cylindrica, odorata, pallide purpurea; oris laciniis recurvata.
Germen tiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Maii in Julium.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla varietatis profundæ. 3. Stamina et Pistillum, anthera una lente aucta. 4. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath with beardless tips within the blossom: flowers grow in clusters: leaves scattered: stem shrubby and erect.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem a foot and half high, upright, branching: the smaller branches simple.
Leaves by fives or sixes, numerous, scattered, linear, pointed, and ascending.
Flowers at the ends of the branches, nearly terminal, and clustered: blossom cylindrical, sweet-scented, and of a pale purple colour: segments of the border recurved.
Seed-bud turban-shaped, and furrowed, furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of May till July.
REFERENCE.
1. Empalement. 2. Blossom of a darker variety. 3. Chives and Pointal, one tip magnified. 4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified.
This delicate species of Erica was raised from seed in the summer of 1828, at the Nursery of Messrs. Rollinson, Lower Tooting. The only Heath to which it bears any resemblance is the E. densa, figured in Vol. III. Its specific title alone will recommend it as a most valuable addition to this extensive genus, as the odour of its blossoms is equal in fragrance to almost any Rose.
