LAXVII. ERICACE.E. 367 
and roadsides, Can., N. Eng.! to Ga. and Ill.! 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 surtace. 
Flowers axillary and terminal, the upper clusters larger. Corolla blue or pur- 
ple, with spreading segments, calyx segments acute, lanceolate. June, July. 
2. S. spectLumM. Venus’ Looking-glass.—St. diffuse, very branching ; lwvs. 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. 
+Orper LXXVIII ERICACEA.—Hearuworts. 
Planis shrubby or suffruticose, sometimes herbaceous. | ; 
Lvs. simple, alternate or opposite, mostly evergreen, entire or toothed, without stipules. 
Inflorescence various. Cal. inferior or superior, 5- (seldom 4—6-) leaved or cleft, rarely entire. 
Cor. regular or soméwhat 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 
Emoryo 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 torrid zone. The 
true Ericacee (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 Vaccinee are chiefly natives of N. America. 
Properties.—The Ericacez are, in general, astringent and diuretic. Some of them 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 (Kenophon’s Anabasis). The berries of the Vaccinee (Whor- 
Heberries, Blueberries and Cranberries,) and of Gaultheria procumbens (spicy Wintergreen) are esculent 
and wholesome. 
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FIG. 48.—1. Azalea procumbens. 2. A flower enlarged. 3. A stamen much enlarged, showing the 
longitudinal dehiscence of each of the cells. 4. Cross section of a 5-celled capsule of Rhodvdendron, 
showing the inflexed margins of the valves. 5. Pyrola secunda. 6. A flower enlarged. 7. A stamen 
enlarged, showing the terminal tubes and pores. 8. Cross section of a 5-celled, many-seeded capsule. 
9. Gaultheria procumbens. 10. Aflowerenlarged. 11. Aberry. 12. Vertical section of the ovary, show- 
ing the free, fleshy calyx. 13, Anther of Vaccinium Vitis Idee. 14. Stamenof Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi. 
15. Awned stamen of a Vaccinium. 
