450 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



somewhat monopetalous, 4 - 5 -parted, decidu- 

 ous ; aestivation imbricated ; stamens twice 

 the number of the corolline divisions, free, 

 usually perfect ; anthers 2 - celled, dehiscing 

 by pores ; ovary 4 - 5-celled ; style one ; 

 stigma slightly indusiate ; fruit capsular, 4-5- 

 celled ; seeds 0, loose-skinned ; embryo at 

 the base of the albumen. Occur in Europe, 

 Northern Asia, and North America. The 

 leaves of Chimaphila umbellata are employed 

 in medicine as actively diuretic. 



5. FAMILY. Epacrids (Epacridacese). Shrubs or 



small trees ; leaves alternate, exstipulate, 

 sometimes half- amplexicaul at the base ; 

 flowers in spikes or terminal racemes, or soli- 

 tary and axillary, usually white or purple ; 

 calyx mostly 5-partite, persistent ; corolla 

 monopetalous, 5-divided, deciduous ; aestiva- 

 tion imbricate or valvate ; stamens free, per- 

 fect, equal to corolline divisions ; anthers 

 1 -celled, opening longitudinally ; ovary usual- 

 ly several-celled ; style one ; stigma simple ; 

 fruit drupaceous, baccate, or capsular ; seeds 

 firm-skinned. Natives of Australasia and 

 Polynesia, where they appear to represent 

 the Heaths. 



6. FAMILY. Umiri-Balsams (Humiriacese). Trees 



or shrubs ; leaves alternate, exstipulate ; 

 flowers in terminal or axillary cymes, or 

 corymbs ; calyx 5-divided ; petals alternate 

 with calycine divisions ; stamens generally 



