KRICACE^. 



239 



11. OXYCO'CCUS. 



Calyx superior, 4-cIeft J eorolTa 4-parted, wilh sub-linear, 

 revolute segments ; stamens 8, convergent; anthers tubular 

 2-parted ; berry globose, many-seeded. 



Gr. ol'Ji, acid, and Mx.x.oi, fruit. Slender prostrate shrubs, with alternate, 

 coriaceous, exstipulate leaves and eatable berries. Cal. very small, perma- 

 nent. Cor. almost wholly rolled back to the base. 



1. 0. macroca'rpus. 



Stem creeping, filiform ; leaves oblong, scarcely revolute, obtuse, glaucous 

 beneath; /^erfjcc^s axillary, elongated, J -flowered ; segments of the corolla 

 linear-lanceolate. A prostrate, shrubby plant, in sphagnous swamps and 

 meadows. Stems 8 — 15 inches in length, browii;- with' ascending branches. 

 Leaves numerous, 3 — 4 lines long, 1 — 2 lines wide, rounded at each end, on 

 very short petioles, smooth both sides, subentire. Flowers flesh-colored, 

 pedicels 5—15 lines long, solitary, in the axils of the upper leaves, the 4 

 segments generally abruptly reflexed. Berry large, bright scarlet, ripe in 

 Oct. flowers in June. Large-fruited Cranberry. 



2. 0. vulga'ris. 



Stem filiform, prostrate ; leaves ovate, entire, revolutg on' the margin ; 

 pedicels terminal, 1-flowered ; segments of the corolla ovate. A prostrate 

 shrub, found in alpine bogs, very distinct from the last species. Stems creep- 

 ing extensively, smooth, purple, with erect branches. Leav-es^ somewhat 

 remote, 2 — 3 lines long and half as wide, smooth and shining above, paler 

 beneath. Flowers several togetlier on the summits of the branches: Pedicels 

 red, an inch in length, with 2 nearly opposite bracts in the middle. Corollas 

 light-pink, the 4 segments abruptly reflexed. Stamens purple. Fruit smaller 

 than in the former species, crimson, ripe in Oct. Flowers in June. 



Suborder 3. PYROLEiE. 



Ovary/reffrom the calyx. Petals nearly distinct. Fruit a capsule. Mostly herbaceous. 



12. PY'ROLA. 



Calyx small, of 5 deep segments ; petals 5, equal ;: stamens 

 10; anthers large, pendulous, fixed by the apex; capsule 

 5-celled, opening at the angles, many-seeded. 



Pyrola is the Latin diminutive of Pijrus, the Pear-tree, which this genua 

 often resembles in respect to tiie leaves. Low, scarcely suff'ruticose, ever- 

 green herbs. Lvs. radical ornearly so, entire. Scape mostly racemose. Pet. 

 roundish, spreadmg. Fil. shorter than cor. Anth. 2-horned, opening by 

 2 pores atthe'sumniit. Style longer than stem, straight or declinate. Seeds 

 numerous, arillate. 



* Stamens ascending. Style declinate, longer than the petals. 

 1. P. ROTUNDIFO'LIA. 



Leaves orbicular-ovate, entire or crenulate, shorter than the dilated petiole; 

 scape 3-angled ; segments of the calyx lanceolate, acute ; stigma clavate, 

 obscurely o-toothed. Common in woods. Leaves all radical, round or inclin- 

 ing to ovate, nearly 2 inches in diameter, smooth and shining, with conspicu- 

 ous, reticulate veins. Petioles margined, as long as, and sometimes much 

 longer than, the leaf Scape 6 — 12 inches high, bracteate at base and in the 

 middle. Flowers drooping, large, fragrant, in an oblong, terminal raceme. 



