204 ARCTOSTAPHYLOS 



twenty seconds ; experiment may prove a Conger immersion to be 

 necessary. Some of the Californian species inhabit hot dry regions, and 

 their seeds are said to germinate freely after a fire has swept over where 

 they grow. Our two British species, which inhabit moist mountain 

 regions, can be increased by cuttings, and the seeds do not offer any 

 difficulties in germination. 



A. ALPINA, Sprengel. BLACK BEARBERRY. 



A low, deciduous shrub of tufted or creeping habit, about 6 ins. high ; the 

 younger branches slightly bristly, clothed with the bases of fallen leaves, the 

 older ones with loose' bark, Leaves obovate, rounded or abruptly tapering 

 at the apex, much tapered at the base, i to i^ ins, long, J to f in. wide, round- 

 toothed towards the top ; thin, conspicuously veined, and without down ; 



stalks J to | in. long, and, like the 

 lower part of the leaf- margins, 

 bristly. Flowers white, two or three 

 together on short, reflected racemes; 

 corolla \ in. long, pitcher-shaped. 

 Fruit a black berry, globose, \ in. 

 across, containing five seeds or less. 

 Native of the mountains of 

 Europe (including the north of 

 Scotland), N. Asia, and N. America. 

 It is a lover of damp, cool condi- 

 tions, and near London its roots 

 should be surfaced with Sphagnum 

 moss. Without having any par- 

 ticular beauty of flower or fruit, it 

 makes a pleasing low tuft, distinct 

 because of its wrinkled leaves, and 

 rather suggestive of Rhododendon 

 kamtschaticum on a small scale. 

 The leaves often turn a brilliant 

 red in autumn. Propagation may 

 be effected by division as well as by 

 seeds and cuttings. 



Var. RUBRA. A variety with red 

 fruits found in Western N. America 

 and in W. China. 



A. MANZANITA, Parry. 

 MANZANITA. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 8128.) 



An evergreen shrub, 4 to 8 ft. 

 high in this country, but becoming 

 a small tree 25 ft. high in its native 

 home ; young shoots, inflorescence, 

 leaf-stalks, and midribs covered 

 ARCTOSTAPHYLOS MANZANITA. with dense down ; bark peeling. 



Leaves ovate, heart-shaped, or oval, 



\\ to 2\ ins. long, f to if ins. wide, entire, thick and leathery; at first of a 

 dull grey, afterwards bright grey-green, slightly downy when young ; leaf-stalk 

 stout, J to ^ in. long. Flowers produced in March and April in short terminal 



