ERICACE^. 259 



ERICACE/E. F.B.I. 82. 



Shrubs and trees with alternate or falsely whorled 

 leaves, and perfectly regular flowers with five sepals ; 

 a five-lobed monopetalous corolla ; ten stamens, with 

 anther cells opening at the apex ; a five-celled superior 

 ovary, and dry capsular fruit. (Distinguished from the 

 VACCINIACE/E in the last two respects.) 



Species about 1,000, in all parts of the world, comprising 

 plants of such different habit as Rhododeiidron and Azalea^ 

 developed chiefly on the mountains of western Asia, and 

 Erica (Heather, Heath, Ling) a genus adapted by the small, 

 often narrow and inrolled leaves to dry conditions and occurring 

 exclusively in Europe and the Cape region of South Africa. 



In Europe Meniesia^ Andrajneda, Arbtitus (Strawberry tree) and 

 Ardostaphylos (Bearberry), Pyrola (Winter green) and Monotropa (Birds- 

 nest) belong to this or a very closely allied family. 



Shrub, flowers 1/6 inch, egg-shaped, white, in racemes . . . 



GAULTHERIA. 



Tree, flower, i to 2 inches, bell-shaped, red, in bunches . , . 



RHODODENDRON. 



GAULTHERIA. f.b.i. 82 i. 



Shrubs with persistent alternate serrulate leaves and 

 small flowers in racemes or solitary, with bract and 

 bracteoles. Calyx egg-shaped, persistent as a fleshy 

 coating round the fruit. Corolla long egg-shaped with 

 five small recurved lobes. Stamens ten ; filaments broad, 

 hairy ; anther cells produced upwards into tubes and 

 horned behind (or in other flowers smaller and without 

 these). Ovary of five cells with many ovules in each ; 

 capsule loculicidal. 



Species 90, mostly American. 



Gaultheria fragrantissima Wallich ; F.B.L iii 457, 1 4 ; 

 a shrub with stiffly erect twigs and leaves, smelling 

 strongly of Oil of Wintergreen when crushed, and 

 17.A 



