184 



Properties. The fruit of Lissanthe sapida, called the Australian cran- 

 berry, is eatable. Chiefly remarkable for the great, beauty of the flowers 

 of many species. • 



Examples. Epacris, Stypheiia, Leucopogon, Sprengelia, 



CLXXIL VACCINIE.E. The Bilberry Tribe. 



Vaccivie.e, Dec. Thior. Eltm. 216.(1813); Dec. and Duhj, 315. (1818); Lindl. St/nops. 



134. (182J).) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with an inferior ovarium, a 

 regular corolla, succulent fruit, indefinite ovules, alternate leaves, and 

 calcarate anthers. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, entire, or with from 4 to 6 lobes. Co- 

 rolla monopetalous, lobed as often as the calyx. Stamens distinct, double the number of 

 the loljes of tlie corolla, inserted into an epig-ynous disk; anthers with 2 hohns and 2 cells. 

 Ovarinm inferior, 4- or 5-celled, many-seeded; style simple; stigma simple. iS(7rry crowned 

 •by the persistent limb of the calyx, succulent, 4- or 5-celled, many-seeded. Seeds minute ; 

 embryo straight, in the a«is of a fleshy albumen ; cotyledons very short ; radicle long, infe- 

 rior. — Shrubs, with alternate coriaceous leaves. 



AvFiNiTiES. Formerly combined with Ericesc, from which it differs in 

 its inferior ovarium and succulent fruit. It is confounded by Achille Richard 

 with Eacalloniese, which are essentially distinguished by their flowers being 

 polypetalous and the anthers bursting lengthwise. Myrtaceoc are obviously 

 separated by being polypetalous, by the leaves being opposite and marked 

 with transparent dots, &c. 



Geography. Natives of North America, where they are found in great 

 abundance ds far as high northern latitudes; spariiigly in Europe; and not 

 uncommonly on high land in the Sandwich Islands, 



Properties. Much the same as those of Ericetc; their l^wvk and 

 leaves are astringent, slightly tonic, and stimulating. The berries of many 

 are eaten, under the names of (Cranberry, Bilberry, Whorllebeiry, &c. All 

 the species are choice subjects of the gardener's care. 



Examples. Vaccinium, Oxycoccus. 



CLXXIII. PYROLACE.E. Thi. Winter Gu ken Titiin:. 



Pyuole/e, Lindl. Coll. Hot. t. 5. (1821); Synops. 175. (182!)). — MonotkopiC/i:, 

 Null. Gen. 1. 272. (1818) ; Dec. and Duhy, 319. (1828.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, a supe- 

 rior many-seeded ovarium, a single declinatc stvle, 2-celled dry anthers with 

 appendages, winged seeds, and a mmute inverted embryo in fleshy albumen. 



Anomalies. The style is not always dedinate. There is a shrubby 

 species of Pyrola. 



EssENTiAf- CnAnAtTEH Caly.r r-)-]enve(\, persistent, inferior. foroZ/rt monopetal- 

 ous, hy[)ogynous, regular, deciduous, 4- or 5. toothed, with an iml)ricated .KStivation. Sta- 

 mens hvpogvnous, twice as numerous as the divisi(»ns of the corolla; anthers 2-celled, open- 

 ing longitu(iin;illy, and furnished witli appendages at the base. Ovarium superior, 4- or 5- 

 celled, inany-scefled, with a bvpogyuous disk ; .style 1, straight or dcclinate ; Hiyma, simple. 

 Fruit (Mpsiihir, 4- or 5-cellerI, dehiscent, with central placeutip. Seeds indefinite, iniiuite, 

 winged; embryo minute, inverted, at the extremity of a llehhy albumen. — Herbaceous 



