ERICA gracilis.

DESCRIPTIO.

Antheræ basi bicornes, inclusæ. Flores plerumque quaterni, in capitulis terminalibus, pedunculis capillaribus. Corolla parva, sub-globosa, læte purpurea, ore paululum contracta. Folia quaterna, linearia, tenuia, glabra, erecta. Caulis fruticosus, sesquipedalis; ramulis filiformibus, per-gracilibus, numerosis.

DESCRIPTION.

Tips two-horned at the base, within the blossom. Flowers chiefly in fours, in terminal heads with capillary foot stalks. Blossom small, rather globose, bright purple, a little contracted at the mouth. Leaves by fours, linear, thin, smooth and erect. Stem shrubby, a foot and a half high. Branches thread-shaped, very slender, and numerous.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.
In bloom from February till May, and again from August till October.

REFERENCE.

1. The empalement magnified.
2. The chives and pointal, one tip magnified.
3. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.
4. Seed-bud magnified.

[Pg 75]