Heath Family 333 



Leucothbe. Four species of southern North American heathers, 

 small, graceful shrubs; nearly or entirely evergreen, with small, pinkish 

 to white, bell-shaped flowers in racemes, and appearing early. They 

 require moisture and partial shade. 



*L. Catesbai Gray (20), although found on streams from Virginia 

 to Georgia, it is a hardy dwarf (two to three feet) with long, arching 

 sprays of broad, dark, glossy foliage on slender, recurved branches, 

 bronzing in winter, larger than the leaves of the rhododendron, with 

 which it groups well. Its pretty pure white flowers, in racemes from 

 the axils of the leaves (April, May) emit an odor not agreeable to every- 

 body. The purple hue of the buds adds to its beauty. It forms a 

 most excellent ground cover. 



*L. racemosa Gray (21), one of the most desirable of the family, 

 growing in swamps from Massachusetts to Texas, along the coast; is 

 a hardy, low shrub (three to four feet), with rich, glossy, green, oval, 

 but deciduous foliage; with very fragrant, elegant, white, waxy flowers 

 (April, June) in long terminal racemes, and with a bright red bark 

 which adds to its attractiveness. 



L. acuminata Don. (22), the Titi of South Carolina and Florida, 

 and L. axillaris Don. (23), the first a larger, the second a smaller plant 

 than the preceding, with their flowers from the axils of leaves and 

 branches, possess hardly any points of superiority. 



Pieris (Andromeda). Of the ten or twelve species distributed over 

 North America and western Asia, three native and one exotic are 

 especially useful for their very early flowers, as a rule white and bell- 

 shaped, of chaste and delicate beauty in drooping racemes. The ever- 

 green foliage of some species is also ornamental. The natives are very 

 hardy and thrive best in partial shade. All are to be used like, and 

 in combination with, others of the family. 



P. Mariana B. &. H. (24), Stagger Bush, two to four feet; native 

 from New England to Florida and Texas; in wet, low ground; is decidu- 

 ous, with large (two to three inches), oval leaves, and white to pale 

 pink, bell-shaped flowers in graceful, nodding racemes, appearing 

 (April, May) before the leafing on the old wood. 



* P. floribunda Benth & Hook. (26), Mountain Fetter-bush, another 

 compact and well-rounded, but smaller evergreen (two to six feet); native 

 from the mountains of Virginia to Georgia, and very hardy. Of this 

 species Davis writes: "No one should think of planting any consider- 

 able number of ornamental shrubs without including this charming 



