520 



CXXXI. VACOINIE^. 



Pyrola. 



Transverse section of ovary 

 (mag.). 



I'yrola. 

 Pistil (mag.). 



Pyrola. 

 Stamen (mag.) . 



Pyrala. 



Embryo taken out 

 of the testa (mag.). 



COROLLA polypetalous or sub-polypetalous, hypogynous, diplostemonous, aestivation 

 imbricate. STAMENS 10, not adhering to the petals ; ANTHERS usually 2-celled, opening 

 by 2 pores, or by a transverse slit. OVARY 3 5-celled. CAPSULE loculicidal. SEEDS 

 minute. EMBRYO undivided, minute. 



Perennial HERBS, sometimes sub-woody at the base, rarely woody. LEAVES 

 scattered or sub-whorled, exstipulate. FLOWERS 5 , regular, in a raceme or umbel, 

 or solitary, white or pinkish. CALYX 5-partite, persistent. COROLLA of 5 petals 

 inserted on the receptacle, aestivation imbricate. STAMENS 10, hypogynous, all 

 fertile and distinct, or monadelplious at the base, 5 fertile and 5 without anthers 

 (Galax) ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, opening at the top by 2 pores or by an oblique 

 slit ; or 1-celled, opening by 2 transverse valves. OVARY free, seated on a hypogy- 

 nous disk, 3-5-celled ; style terminal ; stigma capitate, girt with a membranous 

 ring ; [ovules very numerous, on placentas projecting from the inner angle of the 

 cells, anatropous]. CAPSULE 3-5-celled, loculicidal, valves semi-septiferous, placentas 

 fungoid. SEEDS numerous, minute ; testa loose, much larger than the nucleus. 



EMBRYO minute, undivided. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Pyrola. Chimaphila. 



The small family of Pyrolacc<? has been separated from Ericinea, from which it scarcely differs, save 

 in the structure of the seed. We have indicated the close affinity connecting it with Munotropeae (see 

 this family), which may be looked upon as parasitical Pyrolacece. 



PyrolacecB inhabit the temperate and cool regions of the northern hemisphere. They owe their 

 medicinal properties to bitter and resinous principles. Chimaphila umbellata is recommended in America 

 as stimulating the functions of the kidneys and skin. P. rotundifolia was formerly employed in Europe 

 as an astringent in dysenteric flux and haemorrhage. 



CXXXI. VACCINIE^E. 



(ERICARUM genera, Jussieu. VACCINIE^E, D.C. VACCINIACE^, Lindl.) 



COROLLA monopetalous, epigynous, diplostemonous, aestivation imbricate, STAMENS 

 epigynous ; ANTHERS of 2 bipartite cells, opening by 2 pores at the top. OVARY 



