ERICA vernex rubra.
Reading edition
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica antheris cristatis, inclusis: floribus in medio ramorum: foliis ternatis: caule erecto.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulis pedalis et ultra: ramis plerumque ternis.
Folia ternata, subulata, supra plana, subtus sulco exarata.
Flores ramulos ternatim plerumque terminant in medio ramorum, cernui: corolla subglobosa, ignea, glutinosissima, et lucida: limbo saturate viridi: laciniis æqualibus, erectis.
Germen tiaræforme, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret per menses vernales, iterumque mensibus autumnalibus.
REFERENTIA.
1. Calyx. 2. Stamen unum, anthera lente aucta. 3. Germen et Pistillum, stigmate lente aucto. 4. Germen lente auctum.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath with crested tips within the blossom: flowers grow in the middle of the large branches: leaves by threes: stem upright.
DESCRIPTION.
Stem a foot or more high: branches mostly by threes.
Leaves by threes, awl-shaped, flat on their upper surface, and furrowed beneath.
Flowers grow in the middle of the large branches, and terminate the small branches mostly by threes, nodding: blossom nearly globular, of a fiery colour, very glutinous, and shining: border of a deep green: segments equal and upright.
Seed-bud turban-shaped, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers in the spring months, and again in autumn.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement. 2. A Chive, summit magnified. 3. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 4. Seed-bud magnified.
This Erica was first raised in the summer of 1823, and flowered in the spring of 1824, at Messrs. Rollinson’s nursery: it also bloomed again in the autumn of the same year, and is therefore doubly valuable. It is at present a scarce plant; and, although only a variation between E. vernex and E. ardens, is superior to either of them in beauty, and will, no doubt, be considered as one of the finest of the Ericæ family.
