446 YACCINIACEjE. 



often rigid, entire, verticillate, or opposite, exstipulate leaves. The 

 order contains many beautiful and showy plants, which abound at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and which are found also in Europe, North and 

 South America, and Asia. The order has been divided into the fol- 

 lowing suborders: 1. Ericese, with the testa closely adherent to the 

 kernel, including the true Heaths with naked buds, and the Rhododen- 

 dron tribe with scaly conical buds. 2. Monotropeae, seeds having a loose 

 winged testa, including the true Monotropas or Fir-rapes, scaly plants, 

 with longitudinally or transversely dehiscent anthers, and Pyrolese, or 

 the Wmtergreen tribe, leafy plants with porous anthers. There are 

 52 known genera, and nearly 880 species. Examples Erica, Calluna, 

 Menziesia, Andromeda, Arbutus, Rhododendron, Azalea, Monotropa, 

 Pyrola. 



927. The plants of the order are not distinguished for medicinal 

 virtues. None of the species of Erica are put to any use. There are 

 six species of the genus natives of Britain: two of which, E. cinerea and 

 Tetralix, are common; two are peculiar to Ireland, E. MacJcaiana 

 and mediterranea; one is restricted to England, E. ciliaris; and one is 

 common to England and Ireland, E. vagans. Calluna vulgaris, is 

 Ling, or the common Heather. It has astringent qualities, and has 

 been used for dyeing. It is commonly made into brooms. The leaves 

 of Arbutus, or Arctostaphylos Uva- Ursi, Bearberry, are used as astrin- 

 gents, especially in chronic mucous discharges. Many of the species 

 of Rhododendron, Azalea, Kalmia, Andromeda, and Ledum, have poi- 

 sonous narcotic qualities. These properties are well marked in Rho- 

 dodendron Chrysanthum, a Siberian species. It is said that Azalea 

 pontica was the plant, the flowers of which yielded the poisonous honey 

 noticed by Xenophon in his account of the retreat of the 10,000. 

 The fruits of many plants belonging to the order are eatable. Gaul- 

 theria procumbens and Shallon are American shrubs, which furnish 

 succulent and grateful berries. They yield a volatile oil. Arbutus 

 Unedo is called Strawberry-tree, from its fruit resembling a straw- 

 berry in aspect. It is, however, by no means agreeable as an article 

 of food, and the specific name may possibly indicate, that to eat one is 

 sufficient. The plant grows at the Lakes of Killarney in a native 

 state. Chimaphila (Pyrola) umbellata, a North American plant, has 

 been employed as a tonic and diuretic. The leaves have a bitter 

 astringent taste, and the fresh plant is irritant. 



928. Order 114. Vacciniacete, the Cranberry Family. (Monopet. 

 Epigyn.) Calyx superior, entire, 4-6-lobed. Corolla monopetalous, 4-6- 

 lobed; aestivation imbricated. Stamens distinct, 8-12, inserted into an 

 epigynous disk; anthers bilocular, with two horn-like cells, dehiscing 

 by pores (fig. 335). Ovary inferior, 4-5-celled; ovules 00; style sim- 

 ple; stigma simple. Fruit succulent, crowned by the persistent limb of 

 the calyx. Seeds 1 or many hi each cell, minute; embryo straight, in 



