OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 251 



tions of the leaves about 4, points of the younger leaves, 

 peduncles and tke marg-in of the calix and bractes pu- 

 bescent; flower-bearing- branches proliferous and erect, 

 the rest becoming prostrate and radicant; pedicells bi- 

 bracteate, bractes acute. Berries immaculate red and 

 spherical, often persistent throughout the winter. Hab. 

 In sphagnose swamps or overgrown ponds, from liabra- 

 dor to Carolina. — 1 he fruit an article of commerce as well 

 as domestic consumption. 



2. hispidulus, Vac cinium hi s pi dulum, yi'xch. 1. p. 228. tab. 

 23. Wiild. Sp. pi. 2. p. 355. Gcndtheria Serpyllifolia, Pursh, 

 1. p. 283. The whole habit of tliis singular plant, as well 

 as its being octandrou?;, is certainly in favour of this ge- 

 nus, rather than Gaidtheria, although it possesses occult 

 qualities similar to G. procnmbens, having the same aro- 

 matic taste and smell. The berries of this species are 

 small, white, and produced in very inconsiderable quan- 

 tities, they are aromatic, not very acid, and rather insipid 

 than agreeable, certainly not "very sweet." Hab, I have 

 observed this pLnt north-westward as far as the outlet of 

 lake Michigan, and as Mr. Pursh very justly remarks, 

 abounding where evergreens are predominant, keeping 

 pretty constant pace with the boreal forests of Pines, Lar- 

 ches and Firs. It is not uncommon on tiie mountains of 

 Pennsylvania, growing always amidst Sphagnum. 3. erv- 

 throcarpiis. Vaccininvi ei^throcarpum Mich. 1. p. 227- 



A North American genus, with the exception of O. en- 

 ropcens: {Vacciniwn Oxycoccus, Willd.) whicli has not, I 

 believe, yet been found in America. 



If Germ superior, 

 365. MENZIESIA. Smith. 



Calix of 1 leaf. Corolla monopetalous, ovate. 

 Filaments inserted upon the receptacle. Capsule 

 superior, 4-ceHet!, dissppiments produced by the 

 inflected margins of the valves. Seeds numerous, 

 oblong. 



An heteromorphous genus, J\l.ferrugi7iea and M.globu- 

 lans possessing the habit and fruit of .Azalea, but the 

 flov ers of Andromeda; the firvvers and Ciliated oblariceo- 

 late leaves termi-ially fasciculatt-d; — M. empetriformis, M. 

 caridea with oecandrous flowers, and .M . poll foliar having 

 leafy stems, linear or minute leaves wi;h revolute mar- 

 gins and conspicuous red flowers, are sc;u-cely distinct 

 from Erica. 



