Part 46

The LEAVES grow opposite in pairs, are linear, pressed to the stem, three-sided, concave on the upper, and keel-shaped on the under surface, furrowed, and shining; having very short leaf-stems pressed to the branches.

FLOWERS are numerous, close together, and nearly terminating the branches; the foot-stalks are hair-like, and yellow, having two floral leaves.

EMPALEMENT. Cup four-leaved, leaflets oval, pointed, yellow, and smooth.

The BLOSSOM yellow, of a pointed oval shape, compressed at the mouth; having a slightly reflexed, four-lobed border.

CHIVES. Eight hair-like threads, half the length of the blossom, bent back at the point, and fixed into the receptacle. Tips beardless, within the blossom, and small.

POINTAL. Seed-vessel cylindrical, and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, purple, and twice as long as the chives. Summit four-cornered.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Flowers from September, till May.

REFERENCE.

1. The Empalement, and Blossom.

2. The Empalement, magnified.

3. The Chives, and Pointal.

4. The Chives detached from the Pointal; one tip magnified.

5. The Shaft, and its Summit magnified.

ERICA mammosa.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ERICA, antheris aristatis, inclusis; stylo subincluso; floribus verticillatis, pendulis, ventricoso-cylindricis, supra basin constrictis, profunde violaceo-purpureis; foliis quaternis, linearibus, glabris.

DESCRIPTIO.

CAULIS simplex, fruticosus, erectus, sesquipedalis; rami verticillati, raro ramulosi, erecti.

FOLIA quaterna, linearia, glabra, recta; seniora patentia, juniora erecta, subtus sulcata; petiolis brevissimis, adpressis.

FLORES sub-pollicares, in summitate ramorum verticillati, penduli; pedunculi longissimi, bracteis tribus, minutis, remotis, instructi.

CALYX. Perianthium tetraphyllum, foliolis lato-ovatis., acutis, marginibus membranaceis, apicibus coloratis, adpressis.

COROLLA ventricoso-cylindrica, apice attenuata, ad basin constricta, profunde purpurea; laciniis minutis, erectis, obtusis.

STAMINA. Filamenta octo capillaria. Antheræ aristatæ;, inclusæ,

PISTILLUM. Germen turbinatum. Stylus filiformis, sub-inclusus. Stigma tetragonum.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Floret a mense Julii in Novembrem.

REFERENTIA.