XX. 1. THE ANDROMEDA. 371 



stipules. The flowers are usually perfect, symmetrical and 

 regular. The calyx is usually four- or live-cleft; the corolla 

 four-parted, rarely five-parted, with the parts alternate with 

 those of the calyx; the stamens are as many as the segments 

 of the corolla and alternate with them, or twice as many, in- 

 serted in the base of the corolla, or in the edge of a disk at the 

 bottom of the calyx ; anthers two-celled, opening by a terminal 

 pore or cleft, and with often a pointed bristle projecting above 

 or below. The ovary is free, with cells as numerous as the 

 segments of the calyx and alternate with them, and many-seed- 

 ed ; or rarely one-celled. The fruit is capsular, or rarely berry- 

 like, and generally many-celled and many-seeded. 



In their properties, they are almost universally more or less 

 astringent and diuretic, and many of them abound in tannin. 

 But the different tribes have different properties. The heaths 

 of the north of Europe are used by the inhabitants to tan leather, 

 to dye yarn, as an ingredient in beer, and as a material for 

 thatching ; and the seeds afford food to many kinds of birds. 

 Most of the plants of the Rhododendron group are of a doubtful 

 character, and to some animals several of them are poisonous. 

 The fleshy berries of some of the Andromeda group are an 

 agreeable and healthy article of food. Honey made by bees 

 that feed on the flowers of the European heaths is said to be of 

 an inferior quality, and that from bees fed on some species of 

 rhododendron is considered poisonous. The pleasantly acidu- 

 lous berries of the Strawberry Tree, A'rbutus utiedo, are eaten in 

 the south of Europe, and in Corsica an agreeable wine is pre- 

 pared from them. Its bark is very astringent, and, in Spain 

 and the East, is employed in tanning. 



THE ANDROMEDA TRIBE. ANDROME'DEJE. Don. 



Shrubs with a capsular fruit and deciduous corolla. 



XX. 1. THE ANDROMEDA. ANDRO'MEDA. L. 



Humble shrubs, found in North America and also in northern 

 Asia and Europe ; with a five-cleft calyx, with acute segments, 

 simple at base ; a globose corolla with a contracted mouth ; and 

 ten included anthers with bearded filaments, and short, one- 

 awned anthers. 



