Flowers grow 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.
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1. The Empalement magnified. 2. A Blossom magnified. 3. The Chives magnified. 4. Seed-bud and Pointal, summit magnified. 5. Seed-bud magnified. |
In the 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 of exserta to that of peltata, 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]