ERICA Bankfia.
C H A R A C T E R S P E C I F I C U S.
Er i c a , anthera muticce, exfertee, attenuata in
filamenta plana; corolla cyUndrica, viridi-lulca;
caulis decumbens, fub^fpitbamseus; folia terna.
D E S C R I P T I O .
Ca u l i s decumbens, rigidus, fcaber, fub-fpithamaeus,
ramonflimus; ramulis brevibus.
F o l i a terna, fubulata, trigona, acumenata,
fubtus tenuiflime fulcata, fupra plana, glabra,
profundé viridia; petiolis brevifiimis, adpreffis.
F l o r e s in ultimis ramulis, bini vel terni, cernui;
pedunculi breviffimi, bracleis nullis.
Ca l y x . Perianthium duplex, exierius triphyllum,
foliolis lato-ovatis, rigidis, carinaba, acuminatis;
interim tetraphyllum, foliolis flaccidis,
linearibtis, longioribus.
C o r o l l a cylindrica, ad bafin parum inflata,
viridi-lutea, oris laciniis revolutis.
S t a m i n a . Filamenta ocio linearía, plana, corolla
multoties longiora, receptáculo inferta. Anthers;
muriese, exfertae, nec filamentis diftingucndis,
P i s t i l l u m . Germen fub-ovatum. Stylus
filiformis, exfertus. Stigma tetragonmn.
Habitat ad Caput Bonai Spci.
Floret a menu Februarii, in Julium.
R E F E R E N T I A .
1. Calyx, et Corolla.
2 . Calyx lente auclus.
3. Stamina, et Piilillum.
4. Stamina a Pifiillo diduela; anthera una
lente aucla.
5. Stylus, et Stigma, lente aucla.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Hu t h , whole tips arc beardlefs, without the
blofTom, and tapering into threads, which are
flat; thcblofibm is cylindrical, of a greenilh yellow;
the fleni droops, is fcarce a Ipaii high; the
leaves grow by threes.
D E S C R I P T I O N .
S t e m drooping, barlh, rough, lefs than a (pan
in height, and very much branched; the fmaller
branches are fhort.
The L e a v e s grow by threes, are awl-fliaped,
thrce-lided, and fharp-pointed, nightly channelled
on the under part, fmooth on tlie appcr,
and flat, of a deep green colour, having fhort
foot-llalks prefled to the ftem.
F l o w e r s grow by twos or threes at the end of
the fmaller branches, hanging down; the footftalks
are very fhort, without any floral leaves.
Em p a l e m e n t . Cnp double, the outer threeleaved,
which are of a broad egg-ihape, harfh,
keeled, and fharp pointed; the inner is fourleaved,
longer than the former, linear, and limber.
The Bl o s s om is cylindrical, Sightly fuelled
at the bale, of a greenifli-yellow ; the fegments
of the mouth are rolled back.
Ch i v e s . Eight linear, flat threads, much longer
than the bloflbm, fixed into the receptacle. Tips
bcardlefs, without the bloflbm, and not to be
dillinguifhed from the threads.
P o i n t a l . Seed-vefTel nearly oval. Shaft
thread-fhaped, and without the bloflbm. Summit
four-cornered.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from February, till July.
REFERENCE.
1. The Empalement, and Bloflbm.
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.