480 ORDER 73. ERICACEAE. 



regular, 4 to 5-cleft, the petals rarely distinct. Stamens as many or twice as many 

 as the petals, free, hypogynous. Anthers 2-celled, generally open by pores, often 

 appendaged. Pollen (except in Monotropese) compounded of 4 united grains. Em- 

 bryo straight, lying in the axis of, or in the end of fleshy albumen. Illust. in ligs 

 33, 45, 110, 203, 320, 345, 350, 355. 



Genera 66, species 10S6, dispersed throughout all countries, but comparatively rare in the 

 torrid zone. The true Ericaceae (Heaths), are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope, there 

 being none in Asia, New Holland, and but one or two in America. The Tribe Vacciuese are 

 chiefly natives of N. America. 



Properties. The Heath worts are, in general, astringent and diuretic. Some of them yield a 

 stimulating and aromatic resinous matter. The Bearberry, (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi) is a well 

 known remedy in nephritic complaints. An infusion of the leaves is astringent, demulcent 

 and diuretic. Similar properties are also possessed by the Pipsissiwa (Chimaphlia umbellata). 

 The species of Ehododendron and Kalmia are pervaded by a narcotic principle, rendering them 

 (particularly their leaves) often actively poisonous. The honey collected from their flowers by 

 the bees appears so have been so to some of the soldiers in the retreat of the immortal ten thou- 

 sand (Xenophon's Anabasis). The berries of the VaccinesB (Whortleberries, Blueberries and 

 Cranberries,) and of Gaultheria procumbens (spicy Wintergreen) are esculent and wholesome. 



The true position of our suborders Cyrillea? and Galacina; is not known. We follow De Can- 

 <lolle in appending them to Ericaceae rather from convenience, as their habit certainly points to 

 this order. 



SUBORDERS AND GENERA. 



I. VACCINES. Shrubs. Calyx adherent Fruit a berry crowned by the calyx teeth. (*) 



* Erect shrubs with 5-parted flowers and 10-sceded fruit GAYLUSSACIA. 1 



* Erect shrubs with 5-parted flowers and oo -seeded fruit. No resinous dots. .VACCINIUM. 2 



* Trailing shrubs. Corolla deeply 4-cleft, rcflexcd. Fruit red , OXYCOCCUS. 3 



spreading. Fruit white CIIIOGENES. 4 



II. EEICINEJ3. Shrubx or trees. Calyx free. Corolla and stamens hypogynous. Sds. oo. (a) 

 a Flowers 4-parted, stamens 8. Capsule 4-celled, loculicidal EKICA. 5 



septicidal. (b). (No. 13.) 



a Flowers 5-parted, petals distinct or very nearly polypetalous. (f) 

 a Flowers 5-parted, petals united, monopetalous. (b) 



b Corolla saucer-form, holding the anthers in 10 pits KALMIA. G 



b Corolla salver-form, very fragrant. Trailing shrublet EPIC ^E A. 7 



b Corolla funnel- or bell-form, with spreading lobes, (e) 



b Corolla urceolate (ovoid, cylindric or globular), lobes small, (c) 



C Fruit fleshy, the matured ovary 5-seeded ARCTOSTAPIIYLOS. 8 



C Fruit fleshy, the matured calyx oo -seeded GAULTHEEIA. 9 



C Fruit dry, capsular, opening into the cells (loculicidal). (d) 



d Shrublet moss-like, with linear leaves. Valves 2-cleft CASSIOPE. 10 



d Shrubs with ample leaves. Valves entire ANDROMEDA. 11 



d Tree with ample leaves and slender racemes OXYDENDRUM. 12 



C Fruit dry, capsular, opening between the cells MENZIESIA. 13 



6 Stamens 5, included. Plant and leaves very small LOISELEURIA. 14 



e Stamens 5 (rarely more), long-cxsertcd. Corolla funnel-form AZALEA. 15 



6 Stamens 10 (rarely fewer), exserted. Corolla bell-form RHODODENDRON. 16 



f Corolla very irregular, open before tho leaves appear RIIODOBA. 17 



f Corolla regular, T-petaled. Stamens 14 BEFARIA. 13 



5-potaled. Capsule 5-celled LEDUM. 19 



Capsule 3-celled. Fls. umbelcd LEIOPHYLLUM. 20 



Fls. racemed CLETHR A. 21 



III. CYEILLEJE. Scrubs. Cal. free. Pet. and stam. hypogynous. Cells of caps 1 -seeded, (g) 



g Flowers 4-parted, with 8 stamens and a 2-celled capsule ELUOTTII. 22 



g Flowers 5-parted, with 5 stamens and a 2-celled capsule CYRILLA. 23 



with 10 stamens. Capsule 3-celled, 2-wingetl MYLOCARIUM. 24 



IV. PYBOLEuE. Herbs evergreen, woody. Cal. free. Pet. 5, distinct. Testa of sd. loose, (h) 



h. Flowers racemed, many. Herbs nearly acaulesccnt PYROLA. 25 



b. Flowers solitary (one only) Herb low, acaulcscent MONESES. 26 



b. Flowers umbeled, few. Stems ascending. Style very short CIIIMAPIULA. 27 



V? G-ALACINEJ3. Herb evergreen, aucaulescent. Filaments 10, monadelphous, 



alternately sterile ; anthers 5, one-celled. Capsule 3-celled, oo -seeded GALAX. 28 



VI. MONOTEOPE^E. Herbs leafless, verdureless, with scale-like bracts, (k) 



k Corolla polypetalous. Plant white, reddish or tawny MONOTROPA. 29 



k Corolla monopetalous, campanulate, in a short spike SCHWEINITZIA. 80 



ovoid, in a loose raceme PTBROSPORA. 31 



