DECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA, 5i 



166; EPIG^A. Nutt. Oen. 385. 

 fGr. Epi, upon, and Ge.the earth; from its prostrate habit-] 



Cal. Spartedjtiibracteateat base. Cor. salverform. Caps. 5 celled: Recept:ich 5 parted, 



E. REFEXs. Ell. Hirsute; leaves cordate-ovate, entire, reticulate; corolla cylindrical. 



P'u/g-o— Ground Laurel. Trailing Arbutus- 



Fl. Middle of April, and after. Fr. mat. 



Hub. Hilly woodlands, of r.orthern exposure: frequent. « to 12 inchas long: flowers pale red; fragrant. 



Obs. This prostrate little evergreen has been supposed, lately, lo be injurior.s to cattle, when eaten by 

 them: (See American Farmer, Vol. 7. p. lo9.) but further observation will probably be requisite to de- 

 termine the lact. ^ 



OCf- The Rhododexdron maximum, or Mountain Laurel, grows along the Schuylkill, on the north- 

 eastern boundary of this county; but, I believe, not nearer to this place. 



5. Flovvers Polypetalous. a. Regular-. 



167. PYROLA. Nutt. Gen. 3S9. 

 [A diminutive of Pyrus, a Pear; the leaves resembling those of the pear-tree.]' 

 Cal. 5 parted. Cor. 5 petalled. Style exserted. Caps. 5 celled, opening at the angles. 

 p. rotundifolia. JSTuft. Leaves orbicular, obsoletely crenulate; bractes ovate, acute; pistil declined 

 FuZgo— Round-leaved Winter-green. Shin-leaf. 



Fl. Beginning of June. Fr. mat. Latter end of August, 



ifofe. Woodlands: common. 5 to 9 inches high: flowers white. 



P- ELLIPTIC a. Nutt. Leaves oblong-oval, obtuse, plicately crenate: bractes linear, subulate- 

 Fl. Beginning of June. Fr. mat. J^atter end of August- 



Hub. Woodlands: common. 4 to 6 inches high: flowers white. 



Ohs. Very nearly allied to, and easily confounded with, the preceding; but perhaps sufficiently distinct. 



p. SECUNDA. Ph. Leaves roundish-ovate, acute, serrulate; flowers secund; pistil straight- 



FL Last of Jul3'. Pr. mat. 



Hab. Woodlands: Wollerton's: rare. 4 to 6 inches high: flowers greenish white- 



Obs- The root of this species is stoloniferous, long, and slender,— often reaching two feet or more. It 

 is very rare in this immediate vicinity; but I have seen it in abundance, in John Jackson's woodlands, ia 

 Londongrove township, about 15 miles from West-Chester- 



16S- CHIMAPHILA.- Nutt. Gen. 390. 



[Gr- C//ema,- "Winter, and Philos, a Friend, or liOver; from its sempervirent character;] 



i^AL- 5 parted- Cor- 5 petalled- Stigma sessile, orbicular. Cape. 5 celled, opening from the summit: 



C. MACULATA. Ph- Lcaves ovate-lanceolate> incisely serrate, discolored; peduncle 2 or 3 flowered. 

 <S'^)io?i- Pyrola maculata- IVitld. Mx. &c- FM/°-o—.Si)Otted Winter-green. 



Fl. liatter end of June- Fr. nutt. I jast of September. 



Huh. Woodlands: frequent. About 6 inches high: flowers wlnlc 



Obs. Dr- Smith (.Cjclopo'd.) condenms the establishment of this Genus; but as it has received the sanc- 

 tion of several of our most eminent Botanists, I have thought it expedient to adopt it- This species is con- 

 sidered poisonous by many per-^ons; but it is a mere prejudice, arising probably from tlie circumstance of 

 its having spotted loaves- Its medical virtues, however, are inferior lo those of the following; and' Sohcepf 

 and Pursh are undoubtedly mistaken in saying that thi.^i is the jilant called Pipsti>suwu, among the Nativei. 

 Ttiat name, so far as I can learn, is exclusively applied to the subsequent species. 



C. UMBELLATA Nutt. lieavcs cuneate-lanceolate,.serrate, of one color; peduncle corymbed- 

 Synon- C- corymbosa- Ph. Pyrola umbellata- Ifilld. Mx. &c. Fu/go— Pipsissawa. 

 Fl. Middle of June. Fr. mat. Latter end of September. 



Hab- Hilly woodlands: common. 6 to8 inrheshigh: flowers reddish white- 



05s. This is the little evergreen so noted, as an IndiiUi medicine, under the name of Pipnisxawa, or Pldp- 

 sessawa- It has been much e.Molied, in the Ga/fttcs, as a nniedy lor malignant fevers, and cancerous sores 

 It is moderately bitter and astrini^eut; and is, doubiK^^s, wonhv'of notice: but I am convinced, from, many 

 liiitls of i':, that its virtues (as is usual iu such ca^es,) have been greatly overrated. 



1C9. MONOTROPA- Nnlt. Gen. 383- 

 [Gr. Monos, one, and trepo, to turn; iis flowers tuining chiefly to one side ] 

 Cal. 0. CoR. pseudo-poly petalous, persistent; 5 exterior gibbous at base- Cap.-. 5 valved- S'scc/s numerous- 

 M- XJyiFUQRX Ni.t!- Stems mcsl^r c!'.'.stereJ,l flcwered: flower nodding, fmrdly erect 



