No. 9. ARBimrs. 09 



Belonging to the natural order of Ericines, (heath 

 tribe,) section with berries : and to Decandria »w- 

 nogynia of Linnaeus* 



Locality — This plant is scattered throughout the 

 northern hemisphere in Europe, Asia and America. 

 In Europe, found from Lapland to the Pyrenees and 

 Apenines. In Asia, from Armenia and the Volga to 

 Kamtschatka. While in America it grows from Ice- 

 land and Greenland to Hudson Bay and Alaska, ex- 

 tending south to Canada, New-England, the high* 

 lands, and hills of north New-Jersey. It covers dry, 

 stony and gravelly soilsj barren spots^ and even sandy 

 woods. 



It blossoms late, and the red berries are ripe in 

 winter. These are eaten by bears, and many other 

 animals. 



The leaves are chiefly used, and may be easily dried. 

 In Sweden and Russia they form an article of trade^ 

 being used to tan Russia leather. They begin to be 

 collected in America. 



The Indians smoke them like tobacco, and call 

 them Sagack-homi in Canada. They dye black. 



QuAitiTiES — Taste astringent, styptic and bitterish; 

 inodorous. It abounds in Tannin, which is the active 

 principle, and is easily soluble in water. The other 

 substances are mucus, resin, lime, and bitter extrac- 

 tive. 



PROPERTIES— Astringent, tonic and diuretic. 



It was extolled once in Europe as a remedy against 

 gravel ; but has since been found to be only a toler- 

 able palliative in nephritis, gravel, calculous cases, 



