Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 249 



LABRADOR TEA (Ledum groenlandicum) is an 

 erect shrub growing from 1 to 3 feet high. It is not 

 uncommon in suitable places in the eastern half of 

 Canada, and is found rarely in mountains south to 

 Conn., Pa., and Minn.; its habitat is in bogs or damp 

 thickets. The narrowly oblong leaves are green 

 above, have the edges rolled back and are covered be- 

 neath with a rusty wool. They alternate along the 

 stems the same as do those of the laurels, becoming 

 more crowded towards the ends of the branches. 

 The small white flowers are clustered at the ends of 

 the branches; each has a small five-toothed calyx, 

 five petals and five or ten long stamens surrounding 

 the short pistil. 



LEATHER LEAF (Chamaedaphne calyculata) is a 

 low, much-branched shrub with small, obtuse, flat, 

 leathery leaves. Small white flowers grow in the 

 axils of the upper leaves, forming one-sided leafy ra- 

 cemes. It is found in bogs from Labrador to Brit- 

 ish Columbia and south to Ga.; 111. and Minn. 

 DIAPENSIA FAMILY (Diapensiaceae). 



A small family of low herbs, or tufted moss-like 

 shrubs closely related to the heath family, the chief 

 distinction being the insertion of the stamens on the 

 corolla. 



PYXIE; FLOWERING MOSS (Pyxidanthera bar- 

 bulata). Pyxie is a very attractive moss-like shrub 

 found commonly growing in the pine barrens of the 

 southeastern states, from N. J. to N. C.. The 

 branches are prostrate and creep along the ground 

 for 6 to 10 inches from the roots. 



Each branch is very thickly set with tiny, stiff, 

 lance-shaped leaves less than half an inch in length. 

 The numerous, tiny, white or pink flowers are seated 

 on the stem, growing from the angles of the leaves; 

 they have five, broad-ended petals and attached be- 

 tween each of them is a curious, short, stout stamen. 



