CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Ericaantheris muticis, subexsertis: stylo exserto, filiformi: stigmate peltato, magno: floribus axillaribus, terminalibus: foliis ternis: ramis numerosis: caule erecto.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulissubpedalis: rami et ramuli numerosi, filiformes, adscendentes.
Foliaterna, erecto-patentia, linearia, recta, obtusa.
Floresaxillares, terminales: pedunculi longi, bracteis calyci adpressis: corolla campanulata, parva, carnea, subcernua: stylo filiformi, longo: stigmate peltato, magno.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii in Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, just without the blossom: shaft without, thread-shaped: summit shield-shaped and large: flowers grow from the axillæ of the leaves, and terminate the branches: leaves by threes: branches numerous: stem upright.
DESCRIPTION.
Stemnearly a foot high: the large and small branches are numerous, thread-shaped, and ascending.
Leavesby threes, between erect and spreading, linear, straight and obtuse.
Flowersgrow from the axillæ of the leaves, and terminate the branches: peduncles long, with floral leaves pressed to the cup: blossom bell-shaped, small, flesh-coloured, and nearly nodding: shaft thread-shaped and long: summit shield-shaped and large.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till October.
REFERENCE.
Inthe Genus Erica it is sometimes very difficult to find an appropriate or unoccupied specific title. This little shrub furnishes no less than four to choose from: this choice has already given the additional title ofexsertato that ofpeltata, from the trivial circumstance of the pointals protruding a little more in some plants than others: a mere casualty, probably depending on its strength or culture. The flowers are so very minute, that the pointals are the most conspicuous, resembling shields in miniature. The anthers are large, compared to the small size of the flowers, and so fertile, that when in full bloom if shaken, they emit such a quantity of pollen as would afford the specific titles of fertilis or farinosa.
Our drawing was made at Mr. Lee’s last summer (1823); but we have seen it in bloom as long ago as 1806.[Pg 155]
[Pg 158]
[Pg 157]
[Pg 156]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis: floribus cylindricis, villosis, ramulos terminantibus: foliis ternis, linearibus.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulisfruticosus, sesquipedalis, erectus, et patens: ramuli numerosi.
Foliaterna, linearia, subtus sulcata: petiolis longis, adpressis.
Floresterni, ramulos terminantes: pedunculi colorati, bracteis duabus parvis adpressis: corolla cylindracea et pilosa, ad basin purpurea, et superne alba; laciniis ovatis, patentibus: calycis foliolis lanceolatis, adpressis.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Aprili in Novembrem.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips within the blossom: flowers cylindrical, hairy, and terminating the small branches: leaves by threes, linear.
DESCRIPTION.
Stemshrubby, a foot and a half high, upright, and spreading: smaller branches numerous.
Leavesby threes, linear, furrowed beneath, with longish footstalks pressed to the branches.
Flowersterminate the smaller branches by threes: peduncles coloured, with two small floral leaves pressed to them: blossom cylindrical and hairy, purple at the base, and white at the upper part: segments of the border ovate and spreading: leaves of the empalement lance-shaped, and pressed to the blossom.
Seed-budturban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of April till November.
REFERENCE.
Thiselegant plant resembles the E. Linnæa, and is by most cultivators as well known by the appellation of the old Linneoides as by the specific title of perspicua.
It flowers early in spring, and continues in successive bloom till late in autumn. It was first raised from Cape seed in the Royal gardens at Kew, and flowered in the nursery of Mr. Williams at Turnham Green about the year 1796.
Our figure was taken from a luxuriant specimen in the summer of 1807.[Pg 159]
[Pg 162]
[Pg 161]
[Pg 160]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, exertis, longissimis: floribus pendentibus: foliis ternis, fasciculatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Cauliserectus, sesquipedalis, fruticosus: rami subsimplices, ramulis brevissimis tecti.
Foliaterna, fasciculata, linearia, arcuata, acuta, glabra.
Floressubsolitarii, pendentes a ramulis, in medio ramorum crescentes, et spicam laxam formantes: pedunculis longis, bracteis tribus minutis ad basin instructis: corolla conica, exalbida, laciniis erectis.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Maii in Septembrem.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, without the blossom, and very long: flowers hanging down: leaves by threes, bundled together.
DESCRIPTION.
Stemupright, a foot and a half high, shrubby: the large branches nearly simple, and covered with numerous small branches.
Leavesby threes, bundled together, linear, bowed, pointed, and smooth.
Flowersnearly solitary, hanging down from the small branches, growing near the middle of the large branches, and forming a loose spike: footstalks long, and furnished at the base with three small floral leaves: blossom conical and whitish: segments of the border upright.
Seed-budturban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from May till September.
REFERENCE.
Theflowers of this Erica possess a negative sort of colour, that forms a good contrast to the purply red of the other species of Plukenetia, but when out of flower it is not easily distinguished from them. Our drawing was made from the Hibbertian collection. We are doubtful whether the plant is not at present lost to us, not having seen it for several years. We have long ago figured it in the octavo work, and should have then published it in our folio edition; but wished to give a fine specimen of the large-flowered variety in preference. We have not, however, seen one plant of it since, except that from which the gigantic flower in the dissection was taken at Mr. Rollinson’s Nursery at Lower Tooting, which was rich in foliage, but had scarcely any blossoms.[Pg 163]
[Pg 166]
[Pg 165]
[Pg 164]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis: stylo sub-exerto: floribus urceolatis, terminalibus: foliis quaternis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulispedalis, erectus, ramosus: rami et ramuli graciles.
Foliaquaterna, linearia, erecta, obtusa.
Floresterminales, in umbellis quaternis vel octonis: pedunculis brevibus: corollis urceolatis, albis: laciniis magnis, expansis.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Junii in Novembrem.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, within the blossom: shaft just without: flowers pitcher-shaped and terminal: leaves by fours.
DESCRIPTION.
Stema foot high, upright, shrubby: large and small branches slender.
Leavesby fours, linear, upright, and blunt-ended.
Flowersterminate the branches in umbels of four to eight: footstalks short: blossom pitcher-shaped, and white: segments of the border large and spreading.
Seed-budturban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from June till November.
REFERENCE.
ThisErica, although a distinct species, does not possess any prominent feature sufficient to distinguish it from many others; we have therefore retained the specific title of præstans (by which it is known to some cultivators), although it is an appellation to which the plant has but little claim compared with the numerous beautiful species of which this very extensive Genus is composed. It was first raised from seed brought from the Cape of Good Hope by Mr. Niven. It flowers from the end of spring till late in autumn.[Pg 167]
[Pg 170]
[Pg 169]
[Pg 168]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris cristatis, inclusis: floribus cylindraceis, terminalibus, bicoloribus: foliis ternis, obtusis: ramis divaricatis: caule humili.
DESCRIPTIO.
Frutexpygmæus, rami et ramuli numerosi, divaricati, plerumque foliis tecti.
Foliaternata, linearia, obtusa, recta, glabra, supra plana, subtus sulcata, marginibus rotundatis.
Floresplerumque ternata, patento-cernui; pedunculi breves, colorati, bracteis tribus coloratis instructi; corolla cylindracea, incarnata; laciniis oris viridibus, pallidis, erectis; calycis foliolis ovatis, coloratis, adpressis.
Germentiaræforme, bicoloratum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Maio in Augustum.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips, within the blossom: flowers cylindrical, terminal, and two-coloured: leaves by threes, obtuse: branches straddling: stem low.
DESCRIPTION.
A dwarfshrub, the large and small branches numerous, straddling, and mostly covered with leaves.
Leavesby threes, linear, obtuse, straight, smooth, flat on the upper surface, furrowed beneath, and rounded at the edges.
Flowersgrow mostly by threes, spreading, or nodding; footstalks short, coloured, and furnished with three coloured floral leaves; blossoms cylindrical, flesh-coloured; segments of the border of a pale green, and upright: the leaflets of the cup are ovate, coloured, and pressed to the blossom.
Seed-budturban-shaped, two-coloured, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of May till August.
REFERENCE.
TheErica pumila is a new species, and very distinct from any with which we are at present acquainted. Our figure represents the entire plant, just as we received it growing in a pot. It was first raised at the Hibbertian collection in 1805, by Mr. Knight, with whom it has flowered this summer, for the first time in England. From the very small size, and slow growth of all the plants of this species as yet in cultivation with us, we are inclined to think it will not at any future period assume a gigantic appearance; but will most likely, continue to retain a claim to the specific appellation of pumila.[Pg 171]
[Pg 174]
[Pg 173]
[Pg 172]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris aristatis, inclusis: flores ramos terminant in umbellis: foliis ternatis: ramis virgatis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulishumilis: rami et ramuli numerosi, filiformes: rami longi, patentes, decumbentes.
Foliaternata, glabra, curvata, patentia, acuminata.
Floresramos terminant in umbellis: in ramulis plerumque ternis: pedunculis longis, coloratis, pilosis: corolla campanulata, pilosa, saturate purpurea.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii ad Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with bearded tips, within the blossom: flowers terminate the branches in umbels: leaves by threes: branches twiggy.
DESCRIPTION.
Stemlow: the large and small branches numerous and thread-shaped: the larger branches are long, spreading, and decumbent.
Leavesby threes, smooth, curved, spreading, and sharp-pointed.
Flowersterminate the branches in umbels: in the smaller branches mostly by threes: footstalks long, coloured, and hairy: blossoms bell-shaped, hairy, and of a deep purple colour.
Seed-budturban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till October.
REFERENCE.
Ourfigure represents an entire plant from the nursery of Mr. Lee, the only collection in which we have as yet seen this very distinct species of Erica. It is a dwarf shrub (more curious than beautiful), raised from Cape seed about the year 1810, and called E.sanguinolenta; which we have no doubt will be readily superseded by the more appropriate title ofpygmæa, by which it may be easily recognised either in or out of bloom.[Pg 175]
[Pg 178]
[Pg 177]
[Pg 176]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis: floribus terminalibus: corollis quadrangularibus: caule erecto.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulissesquipedalis, fruticosus, erectus, ramosus: ramis et ramulis longis.
Folianumerosa, sparsa, ensiformia, curvata, adscendentia et patentia, supra plana, subtus sulcata.
Floresramulos terminant, terni, quaterni vel quini, erecti vel patentes: corolla bicolorata, supra alba, infra incarnata, tubulosa, quadrata, quatuor valvis vel suturis: oris laciniis revolutis.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Aprili in Junium.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips within the blossom: flowers terminal: blossoms quadrangular: stem erect.
DESCRIPTION.
Stema foot and a half high, shrubby, upright, and branching: the large and small branches long.
Leavesnumerous, scattered, sword-shaped, curved, ascending and spreading, flat on their upper surface, and furrowed beneath.
Flowersterminate the smaller branches in threes, fours, or fives, erect or spreading: blossom two-coloured, white above and flesh-coloured beneath, tubular, squared, with four valves or seams: segments of the border rolled back.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of April till June.
REFERENCE.
This new species of Erica is at present but little known: the only collections in which we have seen it are Mr. Rollinson’s at Tooting, and Mr. Lee’s Nursery, where our drawing was taken in 1819. It was first raised from Cape seed in 1812, but is still a scarce plant, and not easily increased by cuttings. It is very handsome when in flower: its blossoms resemble wax, with four seams or valves, very unlike any other species we are at present acquainted with.[Pg 179]
[Pg 182]
[Pg 181]
[Pg 180]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Ericaantheris muticis, inclusis: floribus verticillatis: caule fruticoso, erecto.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulisbipedalis, erectus, ramosus: ramis subsimplicibus.
Foliaplerumque quaterna, linearia, patentia, undulata, acuminata.
Floresin ramulorum sub apicibus verticillati, horizontaliter siti: corolla subcylindracea: oris laciniis recurvatis, cordatis, albis.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, villosum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret per menses autumnales.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heathwith beardless tips within the blossom: flowers grow in whorls: stem shrubby and upright.
DESCRIPTION.
Stemtwo feet high, upright and branching: the branches nearly simple.
Leavesmostly by fours, linear, spreading, undulate, and pointed.
Flowersgrow in whorls near the ends of the branches, standing horizontally; blossom nearly cylinder-shaped: segments of the border recurved, heart-shaped, and white.
Seed-budturban-shaped, furrowed, villose, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers during the autumnal months.
REFERENCE.
TheEricasradiataandmetulæflora, figured in the 1st and 3rd volume of this work, are scions from a hybrid production of an Erica known by the specific title ofspuria. Our figure represents an elegant variety of the E. radiata, raised from Cape seed at the Nursery of Messrs. Rollinson in the autumn of 1826.
Among the dissections we have taken the opportunity of giving a branch with flowers of a similar variation of E. metulæflora, to avoid the necessity for a separate figure.[Pg 183]
[Pg 186]
[Pg 185]
[Pg 184]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Ericaantheris muticis, inclusis, stylo exserto: foliis confertis; floribus terminalibus, umbellatis, declinatis; caule fruticoso.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulisfruticosus, pedalis et ultra: ramulis aggregatis, apice recurvatis.
Foliaplerumque sena, sparsa, linearia, obtusa, flexuosa; petiolis longis.
Floresin umbellis terminalibus sex ad novem, declinati.
Corollaoblonga, albicans; oris laciniis rectis; sub-nigris: stylo rubro, exsertissimo.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum: stylo filiformi, longissimo.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a Mense Aprili in Julium.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heathwith beardless tips, within the blossom: shaft without: leaves crowded together: flowers terminate the branches in umbels, hanging down: stem shrubby.
DESCRIPTION.
Stemshrubby, a foot or more high; the small branches crowded together, and recurved at the point.
Leavesmostly by sixes, scattered, linear, blunt, and flexuose: footstalks long.
Flowersgrow in terminal umbels from six to nine, hanging down.
Blossomoblong, of a whitish colour: segments of the border straight, of a dark-brown colour: shaft red, and very much outside the blossom.
Seed-budturban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries: shaft thread-shaped, and very long.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of April till July.
REFERENCE.
Throughoutthis extensive family there is not one that bears any resemblance to this perfectly new and distinct species; the aggregation of the leaves and branches, joined to the drooping character of its flowers, with long descending pointals that rival the finest purple silk, give it a singularity of appearance that renders it equally interesting with the most splendid species. We have seen it flowering successively from the end of almost every branch. Our figure represents nearly an entire plant, from the nursery of Mr. Lee.[Pg 187]
[Pg 190]
[Pg 189]
[Pg 188]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Ericaantheris cristatis, inclusis: floribus ramulos terminantibus; corolla urceolata: foliis ternis: caule fruticoso: ramulis numerosis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulispedalis et ultra, fruticosus, erecto-divaricatus: ramulis numerosis.
Foliaterna, linearia, obtusa, supra plana, subtus sulcata.
Floresramulos terminant in umbellis, plerumque quaterni, cernui: corolla urceolata, carnea, nitida.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii ad Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with crested tips within the blossom; flowers terminate the small branches; blossom pitcher-shaped: leaves by threes: stem shrubby: small branches numerous.
DESCRIPTION.
Stema foot or more high, shrubby, upright or straggling: smaller branches numerous.
Leavesby threes, linear, obtuse, flat on their upper surface, and furrowed beneath.
Flowersterminate the smaller branches in umbels mostly by fours, nodding: blossom pitcher-shaped, flesh-coloured, and shining.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till October.
REFERENCE.
Ofthis species of Erica there are three; one with white, another with delicate red flowers, and a third or intermediate variation with blossoms extremely pale.
Our figure represents the full blush variety, not only as best calculated to represent advantageously on paper, but as further removed in its appearance from the E. nitida figured in Vol. III., at present so very scarce, that the white-flowered reflexa is frequently sold for it, although the flowers in the one resemble a porringer, and the others are exactly pitcher-shaped.
Our drawing was made from plants in the summer of 1822 at the Hammersmith Nursery, where we have noticed them for the last ten years as most luxuriant ornamental greenhouse shrubs.[Pg 191]
[Pg 194]
[Pg 193]
[Pg 192]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris muticis, inclusis; stylo exerto: foliis quaternis: floribus terminalibus: caule fruticoso.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulisfruticosus, sesquipedalis, erectus, ramulis numerosis.
Foliaquaterna, linearia, longa, patenti-adscendentia.
Floresin ramulis terminales, plerumque quaterni, cernui: corolla cylindracea, lucida, ima parte læte rubra, apice viridi.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, superne villosum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Julii ad Octobrem.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with beardless tips, within the blossom: shaft without: leaves by fours: flowers terminal: stem shrubby.
DESCRIPTION.
Stemshrubby, a foot and half high, and upright, with numerous small branches.
Leavesby fours, linear, long, and between erect and spreading.
Flowersterminate the small branches, mostly by fours, nodding: blossom cylindrical and shining, the lower part of a bright red colour, the mouth green.
Seed-budturban-shaped and furrowed, hairy on the upper part, and furnished at the base with honey-bearing nectaries.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of July till October.
REFERENCE.
Ourfigure was taken in 1819 from plants in the Hammersmith collection, and considered as a seminal variety of the E.versicolor, though it certainly more resembles the E.hirta: but from these and every other species of Erica it may be always distinguished just previously to flowering, by the empalements forming a terminal cone at the end of each flower-branch of a rich deep red colour, which only separate to allow the bright green ends of the buds to make their first approach towards maturity: it is therefore beautiful in every stage of inflorescence.[Pg 195]
[Pg 198]
[Pg 197]
[Pg 196]
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Erica, antheris aristatis, inclusis: floribus in umbellis terminalibus, confertis, sæpe germinantibus; corolla campanulata, odorata: ramis numerosis.
DESCRIPTIO.
Caulispedalis, fruticosus: rami et ramuli numerosi.
Floresramos terminant in umbellis confertis, sæpe germinantes: corolla parva, campanulata, pallidè purpurea, odorata: calycis foliolis parvis, lanceolatis, adpressis.
Germentiaræforme, sulcatum, ad basin nectariis melliferis instructum.
Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.
Floret a mense Decembris in Junium.
REFERENTIA.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Heath, with bearded tips, within the blossoms: flowers terminate the branches in umbels, crowded together, often budding: blossom bell-shaped and sweet-scented: branches numerous.
DESCRIPTION.
Stema foot high, shrubby: the large and small branches numerous.
Flowersterminate the branches in crowded umbels, often budding: blossom small, bell-shaped, of a pale purple, and sweet-scented: the leaflets of the cup are lance-shaped, small, and pressed to the blossom.
Seed-budturban-shaped, furrowed, and furnished with honey-bearing nectaries at the base.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers from the month of December till June.
REFERENCE.
Thissweet-scented species whilst flowering produces fresh buds in the centre of the umbels, which, as the surrounding flowers decay, supply their place, and by that means the plant remains a long time in bloom. It resembles the E. caffra in many particulars. It is amongst the early importations from the Cape of Good Hope; and although not equally estimated with the numerous splendid species of recent introduction, the abundant succession of the flowers, their agreeable fragrance, and easy culture, will always render it an object worthy the attention of cultivators.[Pg 199]
[Pg 202]
[Pg 201]
[Pg 200]