Heath (Ericaceae) 155 



23. Family ERICACE^. (Heath Fam.) 



Flowers, regular, or nearly so, except in R. Rhodbra (8). 

 Petals, four to five, united, except in R. Rhodbra (8), 

 Ledum (9), and Clethra (10). Stamens, usually as 

 many to twice as many as the petals, and inserted 

 with them. Pollen, of four united grains. Style, one. 

 Seed-case, three- to ten-celled. 



Leaves, simple, without stipules. 

 Fruit, a berry or a capsule. 



There are not many families that contain as many 

 beautiful plants as are found among the Er!cace&. Of 

 the true heaths, however, we have no native species. 

 The nearest to them are our huckleberries and cranberries. 

 These take the place throughout the northern part of 

 America of the heaths of the corresponding climate of 

 Europe, and they do so with as much of beauty and with 

 far more of usefulness. 



A GUIDE TO THE GENERA. 



(A) Calyx adherent to seed-case ; Fruit a berry, crowned with the calyx-teeth. 



(t>) Fruit ten-seeded (i) Gaylussacia (Huckleberry). 



() " many-seeded (2) Vacci'nium (Blueberry, etc.). 



(A) Calyx not adherent to seed-case ; Fruit a many-seeded capsule. 



(b) Petals always regular, and all united. 



(c) Corolla cylindrical, or contracted f J 3 j f 

 at its mouth ; Fruit, more oJ [ 

 less globular to egg-shape. 1 



(c) Corolla saucer-shape, with ten ( 



hollows for holding the anthers. < (6) Kalmia (Laurels, etc.). 

 Leaves, thick and evergreen. (. 

 (6) Petals sometimes irregular, and in ( 



R. Rhodbra partly separate. Corolla, \ (8) Rhododendron (Azaleas, etc.). 

 spreading, funnel-shape, or bell-shape. ( 

 (6) Petals regular and separate. 



(f) Leaves very woolly beneath, { ( Q ) Le dum (Labrador Tea). 



edge entire. ( v 



(c) Leaves, smooth, edge-toothed. (10) Clethra (Sweet Pepper-bush.) 



