HEATH FAMILY 
ERICACEAE 
BEARBERRY. KINNIKINIC 
Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. 
Many members of this large family inhabit arctic and 
high mountainous regions. The Azaleas and Rhododen- 
drons of the eastern ranges are noted for their beauty, and 
Blueberries, Huckleberries and 
Cranberries are sought throughout 
the country for their edible fruits. 
Heather of Scotland is a particularly 
famous member. Blueberries and 
Azaleas are examples of the certain 
kinds of plants in the family which 
can be grown only in soil that is kept 
acid. 
This trailing and much branched 
shrub is found in dry sandy or rocky 
soil throughout the northern part of the 
continent from New Jersey, Missouri 
and California to Labrador and Alaska. 
Confirmed reports of this plant in IIli- 
nois have been comparatively few, most 
of them having come from counties 
bordering Lake Michigan and one or 
two from Peoria. 
The branches are 6-24 inches long 
and spread over the ground to form a 
complete cover. The leathery and ever- 
green leaves have been much used in 
medicine and were formerly mixed with 
tobacco by the Indians and smoked. 
The flowers are produced in May and June. The small calyx 
is -parted and persists on the fruit. The tubular white corolla 
has § short teeth that are slightly recurved. There are 10 short 
stamens whose anthers have 2 reflexed awns on the back, and 
the pollen sacs open by pores at the upper end. There is 1 
pistil with a slender style. The ripe fruit is a red drupe contain- 
ing § nutlets that cling together to form a solid stone edible to 
bears, squirrels and birds, but not to man. 
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