158 THE PITCHER PLAKT. 



the Composite, yet nearly all the genera agree in the follow- 

 ing seven characters. 



Leaves simple, without stipules. 



Flowers perfect, complete, regular. 



Petals 4, 5, rarely more, united or not. 



Stamens as many or twice as many, free and distinct. 



Anthers 2-celled, opening by 2 terminal pores. 



Style 1 with a 4-10-celled ovary. 



Embryo small, in fleshy albumen. 



The Heathworts comprehend 66 genera, 1086 species, chiefly 

 natives of S. Africa, where they cover vast tracts of country, and 

 America, both N. and S. Some of them are the most beautiful of 

 plants, as the Azalias, Rhododendrons, and Heaths (Erica). 



Our Blueberries, so delicious and healthful, are the fruit of the 

 various species of Vacciniam. Our Whortleberries or Huckleberries, 

 of Gaylussdcia (dedicated to the French chemist, Gray Lussac}. Our 

 Cranberries, of Oxycoccus. 



The Oil of Wintergreen is distilled from the young leaves of Gaul- 

 theria procumbens. The diuretic medicine, Uva-ursi, is the leaves of 

 Arctostdphylus Uva-ursi. The exquisitely fragrant Mayflower, or 

 Trailing Arbutus, is Epigea repens. 



XLII. THE PITCHER PLANT. 



Description. In peat bogs and fresh marshes through- 

 out the country, the Pitcher Plant may be sought. It is 

 everywhere an object of curiosity and wonder. Eight or 

 ten different forms occur, but the flowers in all are exactly 

 similar, except perhaps in color. The species most generally 

 accessible is delineated in Fig. XLII. 



Analysis. GENERIC CHARACTERS. The habit of these 

 plants is acaulescent, with perennial fibrous roots, leaves 



Heather-peat. The Heather sprays and blossoms are eaten by grouse and by sheep 

 in a time of scarcity; while the "Heather-bell, with her purple bloom," is a boon 

 to bees. 



