134 SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. ERICACES. 
The leaves of Oxydendrum have a pleasant acidulous taste, and when chewed allay thirst; they are 
reputed to be tonic, refrigerant, and diuretic, and are occasionally used in domestic practice in infusions 
and decoctions for the treatment of fevers.’ 
The earliest account of Oxydendrum was published in 1739 by Gronovius in the Mlora Virginica 
of Clayton, where it is described as an Andromeda.” 
The generic name, from dfdg and dévdpor, alludes to the acid leaves. The genus consists of a 
single species. 
1 Rafinesque, Med. Fi. i. 41, t. 5. — Porcher, Resources of South- 2 Andromeda arborea foliis oblongo-ovatis integerrimis, floribus 
ern Fields and Forests, 379. — Rosenthal, Syn. Pl. Diaphor. 516.— paniculatis nutantibus, racemis simplicissimis, 48. 
Johnson, Man. Med. Bot. N. Am. 194. Frutex foliis oblongis acuminatis, fioribus spicatis unoversu disposi- 
tis, Catesby, Nat. Hist. Car. i. 71, t. 71. 
