238 CALLITRICHINE.E. [ Cattitriche. 



sometimes larger, equal and petaloid. Stamens 2 4, alter- 

 nating with the inner segments of the perianth : filaments long ; 

 anthers 2-celled, roundish, the cells bursting along their margin. 

 Ovary free, situated on a small fleshy disk : cells variable. 

 Ovules solitary, ascending. Style 1 : stigma multifid, subpel- 

 tate. Fruit fleshy, surrounded by the persistent perianth, 3 9- 

 celled, the coating of the cells bony. Seeds solitary, ascending : 

 testa mernbranaceous. Embryo cylindrical, in the axis of a 

 fleshy or somewhat horny albumen : radicle inferior : cotyle- 

 dons much shorter than the radicle. Small heath-like shrubs, 

 of Europe and JV. America, and the Straits of Magellan. Leaves 

 evergreen, alternate or verticillate, without stipules. Flowers 

 small, axillary. 



EMPETRUM. Linn. Crow-berry. 



Barren fl. Perianth, many imbricated scales, of which the 

 three inner are often regular, spreading and petaloid. Stamens 

 three, with long filaments. Rudiment of a pistil with a 

 many- cleft stigma. Fertile fl. Perianth, as in the barren. 

 Germen globose. Style short. Stigma dilated, peltate, 

 rayed. Berry superior, globose, with 6 9 seeds. Name ; 

 e*>, in, and Trer/aos, a stone ; growing in stony places. 



Diozcia. Triandria. 



1. E. nigrum, Linn. Black Crow-berry or Crake-berry. 

 Procumbent ; leaves linear-oblong. Br. Fl. I. p. 434. E. FL 

 v. iv. p. 234. E. Bot. t. 526. 



Mountainous heaths, abundant. Fl. May. T? A small, procum- 

 bent, much branched shrub, whose leaves are much recurved. Flowers 

 axillary towards the summit of the branches, small, purplish. Berries 

 black, clustered, affording abundant food to the moor-game when ripe. 



ORD. 67. CALLITRICHINE^. Link. Water Starwort 



Family. 



Flowers usually bisexual, monoecious, naked, with two fistular 

 coloured bractese. Stamen single; filament filiform, furrowed 

 along the middle; anther reniform, 1-celled, 2-valved; the 

 valves opening fore and aft. Ovarium solitary, 4-cornered, 

 4-celled ; ovules solitary, peltate ; styles two, right and left, 

 subulate ; stigmas simple points. Fruit 4-celled, 4-seeded, in- 

 dehiscent. Seeds peltate ; embryo inverted in the axis of 

 fleshy albumen ; radicle very long, curved, superior ; cotyledons 

 very short. Small aquatic herbaceous plants, with opposite, 

 simple, entire leaves. Floivers axillary, solitary, very minute. 



1. CALLITRICHE. Linn. Water Starwort. 

 Barren fl. Perianth single, of two leaves (they are, rather, 



