192 ERICACEAE. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Uva-ursi is astringent and tonic, and is 

 generally credited with a specific action upon the urinary tract. In a con- 

 dition of health it produces no diuretic effect, though it is said to do so in 

 certain cases of disease. During its administration the urine acquires a 

 dark color and a peculiar odor. It is chiefly used in chronic urinary dis- 

 eases, as pyelitis and cystitis, calculous affections, gleet, and incontinence 

 of urine. It has also been used advantageously in leucorrhcea, diarrhoea, 

 chronic bronchitis, and in passive hemorrhages. 



EPIG^EA. TRAILING ARBUTUS. 



Epigaea repens Linn6. Trailing Arbutus, Ground Laurel, May- 

 Flower. 



Description. Calyx deeply 5-parted, colored, with three bracts at the 

 base ; the lobes ovate, acute, smooth. Corolla tubular, salver-form, rose- 

 color or nearly white, the limb 5-parted, somewhat spreading ; the lobes 

 ovate, obtuse, very hairy inside toward the base. Stamens 10, shorter 

 than the corolla ; filaments hairy at the base ; anthers linear, opening longi- 

 tudinally. Style straight ; stigma obtusely 5-lobed. Capsule depressed- 

 globular, obtusely 5-angled, 5-celled, many-seeded, covered with the per- 

 sistent calyx. 



A prostrate or trailing shrubby perennial. Stem woody, spreading on 

 the ground, and often rooting at the joints, clothed, as are the petioles also, 

 with stiff brownish hairs. Leaves evergreen, coriaceous, 1 to 2 inches long, 

 cordate-ovate, entire, obtuse or with a short mucronate point, sprinkled or 

 fringed with hairs. Flowers in short dense axillary and terminal fascicu- 

 late racemes, conspicuously bracteate, very fragrant and ornamental, ap- 

 pearing in April and May. 



Habitat. In dry sandy woods, and on hill-sides, especially in pine re- 

 gions. 



Part Used. The leaves not official. 



Constituents. Similar to, if not identical with those of uva-ursi, which 

 see. 



Preparations. Decoction and infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. This plant has been used as a substitute 

 for uva-ursi, and, it is claimed, with satisfactory results. 



G AULTHERI A. A ROM ATIC WINTERGREEN. 



Gaultheria procumbensLinnc. Wintergreen, Partridge-Berry, Tea- 

 Berry, Checkerberry. 



Description. Calyx 5-lobed, becoming fleshy and baccate, and then cov- 

 ering the capsule. Corolla cylindrical-ovoid, white, 5-toothed. Stamens 

 10, shorter than the corolla ; anthers 2-lobed, opening longitudinally, 2- 



