168 GAMOPETALOTJS EXOGENS 



young leafing branches pubescent, the flower-bearing ones short, naked, and of 

 a greenish-bronze color. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, generally oval, with a short 

 obtuse callous point at apex ; petioles very short. Racemes half an inch to an inch 

 long, 6- to 10- or 12-flowered ; pedicels %to%of an inch long, with purplish bract- 

 lets, at base, which resemble bud scales ; corolla white, mostly tinged with purple, 

 nearly cylindrical. Semes rather large (often 1 third of an inch in diameter), 

 sub-acid, and very agreeable to the taste. 

 Bab. Shaded swamps, and rivulets : not common. Fl. May. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. This is the ^Blue-berry so much admired in the Philadelphia 

 market, -and so abundantly supplied from the swamps of New 

 Jersey. It is comparatively scarce in Chester County. 



SUBORDER II. ERICIN'EAE. 



Calyx free from the ovary; corolla sometimes nearly or quite dialypetalous ! seed- 

 coat mostly thin and close-fitting. 



TRIBE 1. ANDROMEDE V AE. 



Fruit a capsule, opening loculicidaUy. 



t Calyx becoming berry-like in fruit, inclosing the capsule. 



239. GAUI/nHTRIA, Kalm. 



[Dedicated to Dr. Gaulthier, or Gautier; a French Botanist, of Quebec.] 



Calyx 5-cleft, bibracteolate at base. Corolla ovoid-oblong, 5- 

 toothed. Stamens 10, included; anther-cells each 2-aumed at sum- 

 mit, opening by a terminal pore. Capsule depressed-globose, 5- 

 celled, many-seeded, inclosed in the red berry-like calyx I Suffruti- 

 cose humble evergreens ; flowers axillary, solitary. 



1. O. procumbent, L. Stem creeping, root-like ; branches 

 ascending, leafy at summit; leaves cuneate-obovate, obscurely 

 serrate; flowers few, nodding. 

 PROCUMBENT GAULTHERIA. Tea-berry. Spicy Wintergreen. 



Stem rhizoma-like, on or near the surface of the ground ; branches simple, 3 to 5 

 inches high, naked below, or with a few lance-ovate scales. Leaves few (4 to 6), an 

 inch to an inch and half in length, rather crowded ; petioles very short. Flowers 

 white, 1 to 3 or 4, in the axils of the upper leaves, on recurved peduncles % to % 

 an inch long ; fruit persistent. 

 Hob. Woods; Brandy wine hills : rare. Fl. July. Fr. October. 



Obs. This spicy little plant though rare here is very abundant 

 in New Jersey ; and is much used in the preparation of medicated 

 syrups, and popular diet-drinks. 



f f Calyx dry and unchanged in fruit. 

 240. EPIGAE^A, L. 



[Gr. Epi, upon, and Ge, the earth ; alluding to its trailing habit.] 

 Calyx deeply 5-parted, 3-bracteolate at base. Corolla salver-form. 

 Stamens 10; anthers oblong, awnless, opening lengthwise. Capsule 

 depressed-globose, 5-angled, 5-celled, many-seeded. Suffruticose 

 trailing evergreens ; flowers in axillary clusters. 



1. E. repciis, L. Hirsute; leaves cordate-oblong, entire, on 

 rather long petioles ; corolla-tube cylindrical, villous within. 

 CREEPING EPIGAEA. Ground Laurel. Trailing Arbutus. 



