ARCTOSTAPHYLOS BEARBERRY. 



191 



SUB-ORDER ERICINE^E. 



Character of the Sub-Order. Calyx free from the ovary. Corolla mono- 

 petalous or sometimes polypetalous, hypogynous. Shrubs or small trees. 



ARCTOSTAPHYLOS. BEARBERRY. 



Arctostaphylps Uva-ursi Sprengel. Uva-ursi, Bearberry. 



Description. Calyx 5-parted, persistent, the lobes roundish. Corolla 

 ovate, urn-shaped, rose-color, pellucid at the base, hairy inside, with 5 

 short, acute, recurved teeth. 

 Stamens 10, included ; anthers 

 large, with 2 pores at the sum- 

 mit, laterally 2-awned, the 

 awns reflexed. Ovary sur- 

 rounded with 3 fleshy scales. 

 Fruit drupaceous, depressed- 

 globose, the size of a large pea, 

 red, with a mealy insipid pulp, 

 *yad containing 5 seed-like 

 nuts. 



A small trailing shrub. 

 Hoot thick, woody, creeping. 

 Stems numerous, trailing and 

 spreading, the sterile branches 

 often 2 to 3 feet long. Leaves 

 evergreen, scattered, cuneate- 

 obovate, three-fourths of an 

 inch long, variable in breadth, 

 entire, coriaceous, shining. 

 Flowers drooping in small 



terminal racemes, appearing FIG. 141. Arctostaphyios u^ 



in April and May. 



Habitat. Dry sandy soils, rocks and bare hills, from New Jersey to 

 Wisconsin and northward. Found also in Northern Europe and Asia. 



Parts Used. The leaves official name, Uva-ursi United States Phar- 

 macopoeia. 



Constituents. Three crystalline principles, namely, arbutin, ericoh',n, and 

 ursone, have been found in uva-ursi and in other ericaceous plants. In 

 addition to these principles there occur gallic and tannic acids and other 

 common vegetable constituents. 



Preparations. Extractum uvse-ursi fluidum fluid extract of uva-ursi. 

 United States Pharmacopoeia. In many cases the drug is best adminis 

 tered in infusion. 



