300 ERICACEAE. (HEATH FAMILY.) 



corymbs or clusters, from large scaly-bracted buds. ('PoSoSei'Spoi', rose-tree ; the 

 ancient name.) 



1. R. maximum, L. (GREAT LAUREL.) Leaves elliptical-oblong or \ance- 

 oblong, acute, narrowed towards the base, very smooth, with somewhat revolute 

 margins ; pedicels viscid ; corolla bell-shaped. Damp deep woods, sparingly 

 from Maine to Ohio, but very common along shaded water-courses through the 

 mountainous parts of Pennsylvania and southward. July. Shrub or tree 6- 

 20 high. Leaves 4' -10' long, very thick. Corolla an inch broad, pale rose- 

 color or nearly white, greenish in the throat on the upper side, and spotted with 

 yellow or reddish. 



2. R. Catawbi^nse, Michx. Leaves oval or oblong, rounded at both ends, 

 smooth, pale "beneath (3' -5' long); corolla broadly bell-shaped, lilac-purple; 

 pedicels rusty-downy. High Alleghanies, Virginia and southward. June. 

 Shrub 3 - 6 high. 



3. R. Lapponicum, Wahl. (LAPLAND KOSE-BAT.) Dwarf, prostrate ; 

 leaves elliptical, obtuse, dotted (like the branches) with rusty scales; umbels few- 

 flowered ; corolla open bell-shaped, dotted ; stamens 5 - 10. Alpine summits of 

 the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire, and New York. July. Shrub 6' 

 high, in broad tufts : leaves ' long. Corolla violet-purple. (Eu.) 



19. RHODORA, Duhamel. RHODORA. 



Calyx minute, 5-toothed. Corolla irregular and 2-lipped; the upper lip 

 usually 3-lobed or 3-cleft, and the lower two-parted or of 2 distinct spreading 

 petals. Stamens 10, and with the slender style declined. Otherwise as in 

 Azalea. (Name from podov, a rose, from the color of the showy flowers.) 



1 . R. Canadensis, L. Damp cold woods and swamps, New England 

 to Penn. and northward, or on mountains. May. A handsome low shrub, 

 with the oblong deciduous leaves whitish and downy underneath ; the showy 

 rose-purple (rarely white) flowers in umbel-like clusters, on short peduncles, 

 appearing rather earlier than the leaves. 



20. LED TIM, L. LABRADOR TEA. 



Calyx 5-toothed, very small. Corolla of 5 obovate and spreading distinct 

 petals. Stamens 5-10: anthers opening by terminal pores. Pod 5-celled, 

 splitting from the base upwards, many-seeded : placentae borne on the summit 

 of the columella. Low shrubs, with the alternate entire leaves clothed with 

 rusty wool underneath, persistent, the margins revolute : herbage slightly fra- 

 grant when bruised. Flowers white, small, in terminal umbel-like clusters 

 from large scaly buds : bracts or scales thin and caducous. (ArjSov, the ancient 

 Greek name of the Cistus. ) 



1. L. latifdlium, Ait. Leaves elliptical or oblong ; stamens 5, sometimes 

 6 or 7 ; pod oblong. Cold bogs and damp mountain woods, New England to 

 Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and northward. June. Shrub 2 -5 high. (L. 

 PALUSTRE, L., grows in British America. It is distinguished by its linear leaves, 

 uniformly 10 stamens, and oval pods.) (Eu.) 



