OXYCOCCOS.] ERICACE^!. 231 



epigynotis ; anther-cells with tubular tips, not awned. Ovary and fruit as 



in Vacciniwm. DISTRIB. N. temp, and Arctic regions ; species 2. ETYM. 



6vs and /cJ/cKor, from the acid berries. 



I. O. palus'tris, Pcrs. ; creeping, leaves ovate-oblong, base cordate, 



margins strongly recurved. Vaccinium Oxycoccus, L. 



I'eat bogs, usually amongst Sphagnum, local ; ascending to 2,700 ft. in the 

 Highlands ; common in Ireland ; fl. Aug. Stems puberulous. Leaves ^-^in., 

 scattered, spreading, shortly petioled, deep green above with a median 

 channel, glaucous beneath with reticulate nerves. Peduncles 1-3, lin., 

 capillary, erect, puberulous. Flowers ^ in. diam., red. Calyx-limb minute. 

 L'ni'oHa-lobes linear- oblong. Stamens exserted, filaments pubescent purple ; 

 anthers yellow. Berry \ in. diam., globose, dark red. DISTRIB. Europe 

 (Arctic), excl. of Turkey, N. Asia and America. The berries are an 

 excellent antiscorbutic, and used as such upon long voyages. 



3. ARBU'TUS, L. 



Shrubs. Leaves alternate, usually evergreen. Flowers in terminal 

 paiiicled racemes, braeteate, white or pale red. Sepals 5. Corolla hypo- 

 gynous, globose or subcampanulate ; lobes 5, reflexed. Stamens 10, on 

 the base of the corolla, filaments short dilated below ; anthers deflexed, 

 ovoid, opening by 2 pores, awns 2 reflexed. Disk annular. Ovary 5-celled ; 

 style simple, stigma obtuse ; ovules many, placentas pendulous from the 

 upper angles of the cells. Berry globose, granulate ; cells 5, 4-5-seeded. 

 Seeds angled, testa coriaceous. DISTRIB. N. temp, regions; species about 

 15. ETYM. The old Latin name. 



1. A. Une do, L.'; leaves obovate- or oblong-lanceolate acute doubly- 

 serrate, panicles drooping many-flowered. Strawberry-tree. 

 Woods at Killarney, Muckross, and Bantry, probably indigenous ; fl. Sept.- 

 Oct. A small rounded much-branched evergreen tree, 8-10 ft. ; bark rough ; 

 branchlets and petioles hairy and glandular. Leaves 2-3 in., petioled. 

 Panicles glabrous, lax ; pedicels short ; bracts deciduous. Sepals short, 

 rounded. Corolla J in., creamy. Berry \ in. diam., orange-scarlet, sub- 

 globose, muricate. DISTRIB. S. of France, Spain, Mediterranean region. 

 Berries eatable when perfectly ripe ; made into a wine in Corsica. 



4k ARCTOSTAPH'YLOS, Adanson. BEARBERR-Y. 

 Characters of Arbutus, but cells of ovary 5-10, 1-ovuled ; disk of 3 



fleshy scales ; and fruit a drupe with 5-10 stones.- DISTRIB. of Arbutus, 



but more abundant in America ; species about 12. ETYM. apitros and 



ffra<pv\rf, the fruit being a food of bears. 



1 . A. alpi'na, Sprcng. ; branches depressed, leaves deciduous obovate or 



spathulate crenate-serrate above the middle, nerves netted, drupe black. 



Dry barren Scotch Mts., rare, from Perth and Forfar northwards ; ascending 

 to '2,700 ft.; fl. May-July. Forms depressed woody glabrous patches, 

 with stout leafy interlaced branches ; bark scaly. Leaves ^-l^in., narrowed 

 to a short petiole, wrinkled above, ciliate. Flowers 2-3, appearing with the 

 young leaves, shortly pedicelled ; bracts ciliate. Calyx minute. Corolla 

 $ in. broad, white ; lobes 4-5, pubescent within. Filaments subulate ; 

 anthers brown, awns very short. Berry \ in. diam. DISTRIB. Scandinavia 

 (Arctic), Mts of Mid. Europe, cold and Arctic Asia and America. 



