HEATH FAMILY 163 



leaves resemble those of yuccas in shape, as they have 

 parallel veins and are long and narrow. They are chiefly 

 basal, one to two feet long, and bear short bristles at 

 intervals along the margins. The stems branch stiffly 

 near the top and bear many somewhat teasel-like flower- 

 ing heads, half to three-fourths of an inch long. 



Handsome European species of this genus are in culti- 

 vation, and "kissing comfits," an old English sweetmeat, 

 were made by candying the roots of an Eryngium, 



Spermolepis (Genus Spermolepis) 



This very common dooryard weed, S. divaricatum, ap- 

 pears in dry ground in winter. It is a short-lived plant 

 that begins to bloom when only a few inches tall, and dies 

 in spring. It is of slender, upright growth, from a few 

 inches to a foot or more in height, with thread-like 

 branches, delicate divided leaves, and minute white flowers 

 in compound umbels. 



OxYPOLis (Genus Oxypolis) 



0. fiUformis is remarkable in this family for its hollow, 

 rush-like, jointed leaves, or to speak more correctly, the 

 leaves are reduced to round bladeless petioles, technically 

 known as phyllodes. The plants, which are common in 

 wet grounds during summer and fall, grow from two to 

 six feet in height, and bear compound umbels of minute 

 white flowers. 



HEATH FAMILY (Ericaceae) 



Shrubs. Leaves alternate. Flowers white or pink. Fruit a 

 capsule. 



Befaria. Tar-Flower (Genus Befaria (Bejaria)) 



The heath family, which ornaments the Blue Eidge 

 Mountains with rhododendrons, azaleas, and laurel, gives 



