ERICACEAE. 25 



with an inconspicuous network of veins, but without glandular 

 dots, glabrous. Flowers drooping, solitary, from the axils of leaves 

 on the shoots of the year. Peduncles 1-flowered, rather slender, 

 short, curved close to the base (where there are deciduous ovate 

 hooded bracts), destitute of bracteoles, glabrous or puberulent. 

 Calyx-limb nearly entire, glabrous. Corolla globular - urceolate, 

 with 5 very short reflexed teeth. Anther-cells produced into short 

 tubes at the apex, and with 2 curved awns on the back. Berry 

 purplish-black, pruinose-glaucous. 



On heaths and in woods, especially in mountainous districts. 

 Common, and generally distributed, though scarce in the South- 

 cast of England. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Shrub. Early Summer. 



Stem 6 inches to 2 feet high, bare of leaves towards the base, 

 the younger branches angular. Leaves deciduous, J to 1 inch long, 

 rather flaccid, shining, with the veins apparent beneath but by 

 nomeans prominent or discolorous. Elowers appearing with the 

 young leaves, rose, tinged with green. Calyx green. Stamens in- 

 cluded. Style exserted. Peduncles longer than the corolla. Berry 

 about the size of a red currant, globular, somewhat truncate at the 

 apex, with a bloom resembling that on the Sloe. Plant glabrous. 



Common Bilberry. 



French, Airelle Anguleuse. German, Gemeine Heidelheere. 



This well-known shrub is also known as the Bleabei'ry, and is much admired for 

 its pretty bright foliage, and its urn-shaped flowers of a pinkish waxlike appearance. 

 The berries which follow them are of a bluish-black colour, covered with a mealy bloom. 

 They are used much in the same manner as the fruit of the other species of Vaccinium 

 — in tarts or jam, or made into jelly. In Devonshire they are eaten with clotted 

 cream ; in Poland they are mixed with wild strawberries, and eaten with new milk as 

 a great delicacy. Their juice has been employed to stain paper or linen purple. 

 Many kinds of game live upon the berries, but the grouse is especially fond of them. 



Sub-Order II.— ERICINE^. 



Calyx wholly free from the ovary. Corolla persistent or deci- 

 duous, monopetalous, or rarely of 5 to 7 distinct petals. Ovary 

 superior, with a hypogynous disk. Anthers 2-celled, opening by 

 2 pores (rarely by longitudinal slits), often awned or spurred at 

 the base. Pollen-grains united in fours. Eruit a capsule or 

 berry. Testa closely investing the seed. 



Shrubs, with green, often evergreen, leaves. 



VOL. VI. E 



