ERICACEAE 



Gaultheria: dedicated to Dr. Gaultier, naturalist and 

 court physician at Quebec, in the middle of the 18th 

 century . 



Procumbens: Latin for lying prostrate. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil of the Com- 

 mons. 



* 



THE PLANT: has creeping or underground branches; the 

 stems slender; the flowering branches ascending, some- 

 what erect, without hairs. 



THE LEAVES: mostly clustered at the ends of the branches; 

 oval to obovate; one inch to two inches long; green and 

 shining above, pale beneath; obtuse or acute at the apex; 

 narrowed at the base; short stemmed; the margins slightly 

 rolled backwards, and obscurely serrate, with low, bristle- 

 tipped teeth. 



THE FLOWERS: usually solitary or few on recurved stems; 

 corolla ovoid, five-toothed. 



THE FRUIT: a globose capsule, slightly five-lobed, bright 

 red. 



A low evergreen that one greets with enthusiasm, for 

 the oval leaves, shiny and dark green or russet when 

 young, have a deliciously spicy flavour (one often en- 

 countered in commercial products toothpaste, for in- 

 stance). The white flowers are not very conspicuous, but 

 are prettily vase-shaped. They are followed by the pure 

 red berries. Both flowers and berries are to be found 

 snugly tucked under the leaves. 



From the plant is obtained a volatile oil, valuable 

 medicinally. 



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