ARCTOSTAPHYLOS BEAEBEKRY. 



191 



Sub-order Ericine^. 



Character of the Sub-Order. — Calyx free from the ovary. Corolla mono- 

 petalous or sometimes polypetalous, liypogynous. Shrubs or small trees. 



ARCTOSTAPHYLOS. — Bearberry. 



Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi Sprengel. — Uva-ursi, Bearberry. 



Description. — Calyx 5-iDartecl, persistent, the lobes roundish. Corolla 

 •ovate, urn-shaped, rose-color, pellucid at the base, hairy inside, with 5 

 short, acute, recurved teeth. 

 Stamens 10, included ; anthers 

 large, with 2 pores at the sum- 

 mit, laterally 2-awned, the 

 iawns reflexed. Ovary sur- 

 rounded with 3 fleshy scales. 

 I'ruit drupaceous, depressed- 

 globose, the size of a large pea, 

 red, with a mealy insipid pulp, 

 *ind containing 5 seed-like 

 nuts. 



A small trailing shrub. 

 Eoot thick, woody, creeping. 

 Stems numerous, trailing and 

 spreading, the sterile branches 

 ■often 2 to 3 feet long. Leaves 

 evergreen, scattered, cuneate- 

 obovate, three-fourths of an 

 inch long, variable in breadth, 

 entire, coriaceous, shining. 

 Flowers drooping in small 

 terminal racemes, appearing 

 in April and Ma3^ 



Habitat. — Dry sandy soils, rocks and bare hills, from New Jersey to 

 "Wisconsin and northward. Found also in Northern Europe and Asia. 



Parta Used. — The leaves— official name, Uva-ursi — United States Phar- 

 ■macopoeia. 



Constituents. — Three crystalline principles, namely, ar&«^i)?, ericolin, and 

 ursone, have been found in uva-ursi and in other ericaceous plants. In 

 ■addition to these principles there occur gallic and tannic acids and other 

 common vegetable constituents. 



Preparations. — Extractum uvpe-ursi fluidum — fluid extract of uva-ursi. 

 — United States Pharmacopceia. In many cases the drug is best adminis 

 tered in infusion. 



Fig. 141. — Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi. 



