HEATH FAMILY. 2G7 



A. nltida, Bartr. Low pine barrens, N. C, S.; 2°-4° lii.uli, vorj' smooth, 

 with 3-angled branrhh'tr;, ovate or oblon.s;, and entire glossy leaves, abun- 

 dant honey-scented tiuwers in numerous axillary clusters, and ovate- 

 cylindrical corolla. 



* * Flowers in naked one-sided racemes crowded at the ends of the 

 branches, formed in summer and opening early the next spring ; leaves 

 evergreen; anthers awncd. 



A. floribdnda, Pursh. 3'^-10° high, very leafy, the lance-oblong acute 

 leaves serrulate, with very fine bristly teeth, abundance of handsome 

 flowers, the ovate-urn-shaped corolla strongly 5-angled ; along the Alie- 

 ghanies S. , and planted. 



* * * Flowers in xtmbd-likc dusters oi vnoil nf tin' prcriaiis iiiar. in late 

 spring or early summer; leaves innstlij di ridmiiis, hm ut'/m tliickish or 

 coriaceous ; pods b-angled by a prainini'iit rib or ridijc at tln' lines of 

 opening. 



H- Flowers j' or more long, nodding, smooth, clustered viostly on leafless 

 shoots; stamens 2-awned, or toothed. Smooth ornamental shrubs, 

 20-4« high. 



A. speci6sa, Michx. Low barrens S.. barely hardy N. in cultivation ; 

 with oval or oblong blunt and serrate leaves, often mealy-whitened ; 

 corolla open bell-shaped. 



A. Marid.na. Linn. Staggekbush (the foliage said to poison lambs 

 and calves). Low grounds E. and S. ; with glossy oval or oblong entire 

 veiny leaves, and leaf-like lanceolate sepals, half the length of tlie almost 

 cylindrical corolla. 



->--»- Flowers very small, v-ilh globular and scurfy-pubescent corolla; 

 stamens avndess. Busty pubescent or scurfy shrubs, 4°-l0'^ high. 



A. ferruglnea, Walt. Low sandy grounds S. C, S., with thick and 

 rigid mostly evergreen, rusty, obovate leaves, the margins revolute. 



A. ligustrina, Muhl. Leaves thin and green, obovate-oblong ; panicled 

 clusters of small flowers. Can., S. 



8. OXYDIINDRUM, SORREL TREE, SOURWOOD. (Both the 

 Greek-mailc and English names refer to the sour-tasted leaves.) 



O. arb6reum, DC". Rich woods, I'onn. to Ind., and S. ; tree 15°-40° 

 high, smoiitli, with oblong-lanceolate, iminted, .serrulate leaves (resem- 

 bling those of the Peach), on slender petioles, and white flowers in long 

 one-sided racemes clustered in a loose panicle at the end of the branches 

 of the season, in early summer. 



9. LEUCOTHOE. ( .Mylliolngical name.) Flowers white, in naked 

 scaly-bracted racemes or spikes, which are formed in sumnur and 

 open the next year. 



* Evergreens on moist banks of .'Streams, with very .smooth and glossy, 

 finely and sharply serrate leaves; the rather catkin-like dense racemes 

 sessile in their axils; bractlels at the base of the short pedicels ; flowers 

 in spring, exhaling the scent of Chestnut blossoms. 



L. Catesbaei. Gi'ay. Abounds from Va. S., along and near the moun- 

 tains ; has long recurving branches, ovate-lanceolate and very taper- 

 pointed leaves on conspicuous petioles, and narrowish sepals. 



L. axillaris, Don. Broader, less pointed leaves, on very short petioles, 

 and broad-ovate sepals. Low country S. ; flowers very early. 



