232 



ERICA CEyE. 



[chap. 



crossed l)y the pollen of other flowers of the same species. 

 The part which these hermetically sealed flowers play in the 

 economy of plants is not yet well made out. They are 

 foiind in isolated species and genera belonging to widely 

 different Natural Orders, and it would be worth while to look 

 for fresh examples amongst Indian weeds. 



54. Natural Order, EricacecE. — The Heath Family. 



Shrubs or trees, with alternate simple leaves. Stamens 

 usually eight or ten, with anthers opening by pores. Seeds 

 indefinite. (In the tribe Ericeas the ovary is free.) 



^YV^-—Rhodode?idron arboreum (or any other species of 

 Rhododendron). 



A mountain shrub, with evergreen, simple, coriaceous 

 leaves, and terminal, umbellate clusters of red or white, 

 slightly irregular, bell-shaped, beautiful flowers. 



A Family widely spread, but most prevalent in cool cli- 

 mates, either of the temperate zones, or on mountains between 

 the tropics. The Himalaya are especially rich in beautiful 

 species of the genus Rhododendron, including the Type 

 species, which is also found in the mountains of Southern 

 India. 



