454 ERICACEAE, [Hypogynous Exogens. 



may be considered the representatives, in the stamens not growing upon the petals, 

 and in the cells of the ovary agreeing in number with the lobes of the calyx and 

 corolla. The genus Saurauja among Dilleniads, has very much the structure of a 

 Clethra. In Horsfield's Plant <e Javanica, p. 86, mention is made of the peculiar 

 nature of the stigma in these plants, which Mr. Bennett justly compares to the indusium 

 of Goodeniads. I have endeavoured to show that this rim is nothing more than the 

 points of carpellary leaves separated from the stigma, which is itself a prolongation of 

 the placenta. See Botanical Register, 1840, t. 9, and some observations on Babing- 

 tonia in the same work. 



Heathworts are most abundant at the Cape of Good Hope, where immense tracts are 

 covered with them ; they are common in Europe and North and South America, both 

 within and without the tropics ; less common in Northern Asia and India, and almost 

 unknown in Australasia, where their place is supplied by Epacrids. Although found 

 in tropical countries, as for example, Java, it is only in their highlands. 



It is worthy of note that although Botanists do not now admit the two sections of this 

 Order to be of the same value as was assigned to them by Jussieu, yet that there is a 

 considerable difference in the nature of their secretions. Ericese are to a large extent 

 inert, there not being, in the whole of the vast genus Erica, a single instance of a medi- 

 cinal species, for Erica arborea, once held to be an alexipharmic, seems to have been a 

 merely superstitious medicine. Calluna vulgaris, the common Heather, is however 

 astringent, and is employed both by fullers and dyers ; its tough branches are the com- 

 mon material out of which brooms are made in this country, and the flowers are pecu- 

 liarly grateful to bees. We do, however, find among the Ericese species to which useful 

 qualities cannot be denied. Some are astringents ; as Arctostaphylos Uva ursi, believed to 

 be a decided palliative in nephritic paroxysms ; it is also employed in dysuria, catarrhus 

 vesicae, leucorrhoea and gonorrhoea. Its action is slow, and it therefore requires to be 

 given for a considerable period ; although the effects are uncertain they sometimes give 

 astonishing relief. — Pereira. The fruit of Gaultheria procumbens, a little dwarf North 

 American evergreen, contains an aromatic, sweet, highly pungent volatile oil, which is 

 antispasmodic and diuretic. A tincture has been useful in diarrhoea. Coxe states that 

 the infusion is serviceable in asthma. It is used in North America as tea ; and brandy in 

 which the fruit has been steeped is taken in small quantities in the same way as common 

 bitters. The oil is known under the name of Oil of Wintergreen, and is used by 

 druggists to flavour syrups, and also by perfumers. 



The berries of the succulent-fruited kinds are usually grateful, and sometimes used as 

 food. G. procumbens and Shallon, Arctostaphylos alpina, and Brosstea coccmea, are 

 examples of this. In Van Diemens Laud the G. hispida, or Waxcluster, bears snow- 

 white berries, with a flavour by no means unpleasant ; in taste it is said to resemble 

 the Gooseberry, but it is somewhat bitter ; but according to some, the G. antipoda 

 is said to have more merit as a fruit. The Arbutus Unedo (Ko/xapos of Dioscorides) 

 bears a red fruit something like a Strawberry, whence the plant has been familiarly 

 named the Strawberry-tree ; its bark and leaves are astringent. A wine is made from 

 the fruit in Corsica, but it is reported to be narcotic, if taken in quantity. A. Andrachne 

 is stated to have similar qualities. In some instances this narcotic quality is so con- 

 centrated that the plants become poisonous. The shoots of Andromeda ovalifolia poison 

 goats in Nipal. It is stated by Dr. Horsfield that a very volatile heating oil, with a 

 peculiar odour, used by the Javanese in rheumatic affections, is obtained from another 

 species of Andromeda. A. polifolia, a small shrub, found wild in the bogs of the North 

 of Europe, is an acrid narcotic, and proves fatal to sheep. Similar properties have beeii 

 observed in the United States in A. mariana, and others. It is however in the Rhodo- 

 dendrese that dangerous narcotic qualities are most prevalent. The leaves of Ledum 

 latifolium and palustre infused in beer render it unusually heady, producing headache, 

 nausea, and even delirium. They have nevertheless been used, it is said, with advan- 

 tage in tertian agues, dysentery, and diarrhoea. The leaves of Kahuia latifoha art 

 poisonous to many animals, and are reputed to be narcotic, but their action is feeble. 

 Bigelow states that the flesh of pheasants which have fed upon the young shoots is pen- 

 sonous to man, and some cases of severe illness are on record which have been ascribed 

 to this cause alone. The flowers exude a sweet honey-like juice, which is said when 

 swallowed to bring on intoxication of a phrenitic kind, which is not only formidable m 

 its symptoms but very lengthened in its duration. — Burnett. Rhododendron e-hrysan- 

 thum, a Siberian bush, is one of the most active of narcotics. Pallas and Koelpin assert 

 that a strong decoction of the leaves is of the greatest service in chronic, but dangerous 

 in acute, rheumatism. Its value as a means of removing arthritic complaints has i 

 been highly spoken of. Finally, Pallas mentions an inveterate case of nervous sciaiua. 

 which had* brought the patient to a state of lameness and deplorable emaciation, winch 

 was completely cured by perseverance in the use of the leaves for two years. No sub- 



