ERICACE^:. 232 GAULTHERIA. 



M. CCERU'lEA. Erica Coerulea. 



Stems prostrate at base ; Icarcs linear, obtuse, with minute cartilaginous 

 teeth; peduncles terminal, aggregate, one-flowered; flowers campanulate, 

 decandrous ; c«///z acute. A small shrub, a few inches high, found on the 

 summit of the White Mis. It resembles a Heath in its flowers and some of 

 tlie fir tribe in its leaves and stems. Stem decumbent at base, with crowded, 

 scattered leaves above, which are 5 — 7 lines in length. Flowers drooping, 

 purple, at the top of the highest branch, on colored peduncles. Calyx in 5 

 segments, purplish. Corolla of 5 segments, emarginate, rather longer than 

 the stamens. July. Mountain liealh. 



3. ARCTOSTA'PHYLOS. 



Calyx 5-partetl, persistent ; corolla ovoid, diaphanous at the 

 base, limb with 5 small, recurved segments ; drupe with a 

 5-celled pulamen, the cells 1 -seeded. 



Gr. arx-Toi, a bear, (TTci(pv\oi, a cluster of grapes, that is, bear-berry. Trail- 

 ino- shrubs. Lvs. alternate. Cal. small. Seg. obtuse. Fil. swelling at the 

 base, half the length of the corolla. Anth. with two distinct cells, each with 

 a terminal pore. Conncelile with two terminal awns. Ova. superior, upon 

 a 10-dotled receptacle. Style as long as corolla. 



A. UvA UrSI. Mans. Arbutus Uva Ursi. L. 



Stem procumbent ; leuxcs entire, obovate, smooth, alternate, on short petioles, 

 evergreen, coriaceous, sliining aljove, paler beneath ; flowers in short, termi- 

 nal, drooping clusters ; drupe globular, about as large as a currant, deep red, 

 nearly insipid ; the nucleus consists of 5 bony seeds firmly united together. A 

 shrub growing on mountains, in the N. States and British America. Stem 

 prostrate e.xcept the younger branches, which arise 3 — 8 inches. The leaves 

 are about dn inch in length, 2 — 3 lines wide, often spathulate inform; 

 medicinally they are astringent, and much valued in nephritic complaints. 

 May. June. Bear-berry. 



4. GAULTHE'RIA. 

 Calyx S-cleft with 2 bracts at the base; corolla ovoid- 

 tubular, limb with 5 small, revohite lobes; filaments 10, hir- 

 sute; capsule 5-cclled, invested by the calyx which becomes 

 a berry. 



Named for one Gaulthier, a French physician at Quebec. Suflfruticose, 

 evergreen. Lvs. alternate. Fls. solitary. Limb of corolla small, 5-cleft. 

 Seg.°rellexed. Fil. hairy. Nect. 10-toothed. Berry scarlet. 



1. G. procu'mbens. 



S^cm with the procumbent branches erector ascending; /ca»e5 obovate, 

 mucronate, denticulate, crowded at the top of the stein ; flowers few, droop- 

 ing, terminal. A little shrubby plant, well known for its spicy leaves and its 

 well-flavored scarlet berries. The branches ascend 3 inches from the pros- 

 trate stein, or rhizoma, which is usually concealed. Leaves evergreen, thick, 

 shining, acute at each end, with remote and very obscure teeth. Calyx 

 white, subtended by 2 minute bracts at base. Corolla white, contracted at 

 tlie mouth. Filaments white, bent towards the corolla. Fruit well-flavored, 

 consistiniT of the capsule surrounded by the enlarged calyx, which becomes of 

 a brio-ht scarlet color. Woods and pastures. June — Sept. Chcckerhernj. 



