ITI.l 



STYRACEM. 



233 



The Cranberry Tribe { Vacciniacece) constitute a sub-type, 

 diftering from the above in having the ovary inferior, and 

 the stamens and corolla epigynous in consequence. Several 

 species of this group occur in the mountains of Northern 

 India. 



Observe the dedinate (turned to one side) stamens, with 

 the anthers opening by minute terminal pores, in Rhodo- 

 dendro7i. The anthers of most genera of the Family are 

 curiously appendaged with bristle-like spurs. 



But few species are turned to account by man, excepting 

 for garden and shrubbery ornamentation. The genus Heath 

 (Erica)^ a great favourite on account of the elegance and 

 beauty of its flowers, is remarkably numerous in species at 

 the Cape of Good Hope, while two or three social species, 

 numerous in individuals^ cover large areas of barren land in 

 Northern Europe. The so-called Azalea indica, a favourite 

 greenhouse shrub in Europe, is a Chinese plant. It differs 

 from Rhododendron in having deciduous leaves. 



** Ovary superior. 

 55. Natural Order, Styracece. — The Benzoin Family. 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple leaves. Stamens 

 often indefinite, inserted on base of the corolla-tube. Ovary 

 sometimes free. Seed usually solitary. 



Type — Symplocos race??tosa. 



