LXXVIII. ERICACE^. 



367 



and roadsides, Can., N. Eng. ! to Ga. and 111. ! The strict, upright stem, is 

 furnished with distant, short, alternate, heart-reniform, veiny, stem-clasping 

 leaves, containg 1 — 4 crowded flowers in the concavity of their upper surface. 

 Flowers axillary and terminal, the upper clusters larger. Corolla blue or pur- 

 ple, with spreading segments, calyx segments acute, lanceolate. June, July. 



2. S. SPECULUM. Ve>ms' Looking-glass. — St. diffuse, very branching ; lis. ob- 

 long-crenate ; Jls. solitary ; scales at the base of the corolla sometimes wanting. 

 — A pretty border flower named from the form of the blue corolla, which resem- 

 bles a little, round, concave mirror (speculum). Aug. 



Order LXXYIII. ERICACE^.— Heathworts. 



Plants shrubby or sulTmticose, sometimes herbaceous. 



Lvs. simple, alternate or opposite, mostly evergreen, entire or toothed, without stipules. 



Inflorescence various. CaL mfcrior or superior, 5- (seldom 4— <;-) leaved or cieft, rarely entire. 



Cor. regular or somewhat irregular, 4—5- (rarely 6) cleft, the petals rarely almost distinct. 



Sta. Generally distinct and inserted with the corolla. [appendaged. 



Anth. as many or twice as many as the lobes of the corolla, 2-celled, generally opening by pores, often 



Embryo straight, lying in the axis of, or in the end of fleshy albumen. 



Genera 66, species 1086, diffused throughout all countries, but comparatively rare in the tonid zone. The 

 true Ericacees (Heaths) are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope, there being none in Asia, New 

 Holland, and but one or two in America. The Tribe Vaccineae are chiclly natives of N. America. 



Properties.— The Ericaceffi are, in general, astringent and diuretic. Some of theni yield a stimulating 

 and aromatic resinous matter. The Bearberry. (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi) is a well-known remedy in 

 nephritic complaints. An infusion of the leaves is astringent, demulcent and diuretic. Similar properties 

 are also possessed by the Pipsissiwa (Chimaphila umbellata). The species of Rhododendron and Kal- 

 mia are pervaded by a narcotic principle, rendering them (particularly their leaves) often actively poison- 

 ous. The honey collected from their flowers by bees appears to have been so to some of the soldiers in 

 the retreat of the immortal ten thousand (Xenophon's Anabasis). The berries of the Vaccineae (Whor- 

 tleberries, Blueberries and Cranberries,) and of Gaultheria procumbens (spicy Wintergreen) are esculent 

 and wholesome. 



FIG. 4''— 1. Azalea procumbens. 2. A flower enl:ir(jtd. 3. A stamen much enlarged, showing tlie 

 longitudiiiul dehiMctnce ol each of the cells. 4. Cro.-s section ofii 5 celled ru|)sult; of Hhodudt-iulron, 

 showing the inflexetl margins of the valve.^. 5. Pyroln sertnuln. 6. A flower enlarged. 7 A statnen 

 enlarged, showing the terminal tulies and pores. 8. Cross section of a 5 celled, many-seeded cap-iule. 

 9. Gaultheria procumbens. 10. A flower enlarged. II. Aberry. 12. Vert icjil nection of the avary, show- 

 ing the free, fleshy calyx. 13. Anther of VacciniumVitis Ide». H. SlaraenofArcfosUiphyios Uva-ursi. 

 15. Awned stamen of u Vaccinium. 



