White to Green and Brown Flowers 183 



Its leaves are longer and more spreading than those of the 

 Heath, near which it usually grows. 



WHITE HEATH 



Cassiope Mertensiana. Heath Family 



Stems: rather stout, rigid, ascending with fastigiate branches, low- 

 growing. Leaves: glabrous, carinate, and not furrowed on the back, 

 imbricated in four ranks ; corolla five-lobed. 



The beautiful white mountain Heath grows abundantly at 

 high altitudes and is much prized by travellers. Its 

 branches appear four-sided by reason of the manner in 

 which the tiny leaves grow on them, and from these 

 branches slender stalks are sent forth bearing at their tips 

 waxen nodding bells, each composed of a five-lobed corolla 

 with a small green calyx. 



" Meek dwellers mid yon terror-stricken cliffs, 

 With brows so pure, and incense-breathing lips, 

 Whence are ye ? Did some white-winged messenger, 

 On Mercy's missions, trust your timid germ. 

 To the cold cradle of eternal snows; 

 Or, breathing on the callous icicles, 

 Bid them with tear-drops nurse ye? " 



Cassiope tetragona, or Four-angled Heath, is a very rare 

 plant. It has ascending branches, and the leaves which are 

 closely appressed and channeled on the back are imbricated 

 in four rows which makes the branches appear four-sided. 

 The flowers greatly resemble those of the preceding species. 



RED-BERRIED GAULTHERIA 



Gaultheria ovatifolia. Heath Family 



Stems: depressed, trailing, with ascending branches. Leaves: 

 broadly ovate, serrulate. Flowers: on short solitary pedicels in the 

 axils of the leaves. Fruit: a berry. 



