208 



FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 



in such regions. Among these may be mentioned Ledum, the Lal^raclor 

 tea ; Cassiope, CJiamaedaphne, Phyllodoce and Andromeda. Others are 

 characteristic of the Pacific States, as the madroiia {Arbutus Menziesii), 

 a handsome tree only distantly related to the beautiful mayflower, 

 which is often incorrectly called arbutus. The mayflower, by the way 

 {Epigaea repens), is one of those peculiar plants in which there are but 

 two species, one of eastern North America, the other of Japan. The 

 accompanying plate, taken from a photograph, is an unusually good 

 picture of this dainty little flower. 



The economic interest in the Ericaceae centres chiefly in those 

 genera whose fruit is a berry rather than a capsule, as in the blueber- 

 ries and their allies ( Vaccinium). The latter genus is represented by a 

 large number of species, most of which have edible fruit. Of less value, 

 but still useful, particularly when cooked, are the huckleberries, derived 

 from species of Gaylussacia. The writer is often asked the difference 

 between a blueberry and a huckleberry, and it is true that in many 

 parts of the country, particularly in New England, the terms are used 

 synonymously, and applied indiscriminateh^ to both Vaccinium and 

 Gaylussacia. As a matter of fact, while the two genera are suflicieutly 

 distinct in structural characters, it is hard to draw a line of popular de- 

 marcation. Both fi-uits contain what appear to be seeds, but in Gaylus- 

 sacia, they are really one-seeded nutlets, or little stone fruits. There is 

 no color criterion, for while most Vacciniwns have blue fruits and most 

 Gallussacias black, there are exceptions in each of the two genera. 



Fig. 180. The Small Cranberry [Oxycoccus Oxycoccus). 

 and Brown, 111. Fl. Northeast U. S. 



After Britton 



