480 ORDER 73. ERICACEAE. 



regular, 4 to 5-cleft, the petals rarely distinct. Stamens as many or twice as many 

 as the pe'tals, free, hypogynous. Anthers 2-celled, generally open by pores, often 

 appendaged. Pollen (except in Monotropea?) compounded of 4 united grains. Em- 

 bryo straight, lying in the axis of, or in the end of fleshy albumen. Illust. in figs 

 38, 45, 110, 203, 320, 345, 350, 355. 



Genera 66, species 1086, dispersed throughout all countries, but comparatively rare in the 

 torrid zone. The true Ericaceuj (Heaths), are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope, there 

 being none in Asia, New Holland, and but one or two in America. The Tribe Vacciueee are 

 chiefly natives of N. America. 



Properties. The Heath worts are, in general, astringent and diuretic. Some of them yield a 

 stimulating and aromatic resinous matter. The Bearberry, (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi) is a well 

 known remedy in nephritic complaints. An infusion of tho leaves is astringent, demulcent 

 and diuretic. Similar properties are also possessed by the Pipsissiwa (Chimaphlia umbellata). 

 The species of Rhododendron and Kalrnia are pervaded by a narcotic principle, rendering them 

 (particularly their leaves) often actively poisonous. The honey collected from their flowers by 

 the bees appears so have been so to some of the soldiers in the retreat of the immortal ten thou- 

 sand (Xenophon's Anabasis). The berries of the Vaccinere (Whortleberries, Blueberries and 

 Cranberries,) and of Gaultheria procumbens (spicy Wintergreen) are esculent and wholesome. 



The true position of our suborders Cyrilleae and Galacinne is not known. We follow De Can- 

 dolle in appending them to Ericaceae rather from convenience, as their habit certainly points to 

 this order. 



SUBORDERS AND GENERA. 



I. VACCINEJ2. Shrubs. Calyx adherent. Fruit a berry crowned by the calyx teeth. (*) 



* Erect shrubs with 5-parted flowers and 10-seeded fruit GAYLI:SSACIA. 1 



* Erect shrubs with 5-parted flowers and oo -seeded fruit. No resinous dots. . VACCINIUM. 2 



* Trailing shrubs. Corolla deeply 4-clcft, reflexed. Fruit red OxYcocct'S. 8 



spreading. Fruit white CIIIOGENES. 4 



II. EEICINEJ3. Shrubs or trees. Calyx free. Corolla and stamens hypogynous. Sds. oo. (a) 

 a Flowers 4-parted, stamens 8. Capsule 4-cellcd, loculicidal ERICA. 5 



septicidal. (b). (No. 13.) 



a Flowers 5-parted, petals distinct or very nearly polypetalous. (f) 

 a Flowers 5-parted, petals united, monopetalous. (b) 



b Corolla saucer-form, holding the anthers in 10 pits KALMIA. 6 



b Corolla salver-form, very fragrant. Trailing shrublet EPIGJSA. 7 



b Corolla funnel- or bell-form, with spreading lobes, (e) 



b Corolla urceolate (ovoid, cylindric or globular), lobes small, (c) 



C Fruit fleshy, the matured ovary 5-seeded ARCTOSTAPHYLOS. 8 



C Fruit fleshy, the matured calyx oo -seeded GAULTUEEIA. 9 



C Fruit dry, capsular, opening into the cells (loculicidal). (d) 



d Shrublet moss-like, with linear leaves. Valves 2-cleft ' CASSIOPE. 10 



d. Shrubs with ample leaves. Valves entire ANDROMEDA. 11' 



d Tree with ample leaves and slender racemes OXYDENDRCM. 12 



C Fruit dry, capsular, opening between the cells MENZIESIA. 18 



6 Stamens 5, included. Plant and leaves very small LOISELEURIA. 14 



6 Stamens 5 (rarely more), long-cxserted. Corolla funnel-form AZALEA. 15 



e Stamens 10 (rarely fewer), exserted. Corolla bell-form RHODODENDRON. 16 



f Corolla very irregular, open before tho leaves appear RHODORA. 17 



f Corolla regular, 7-petaled. Stamens 14 BEFARIA. 18 



5-petaled. Capsule 5-celled LEDUM. 19 



Capsule 3-celled. Fls. umbeled LEIOPHYLLUM. 20 



Fls. racemed CLKTIIRA. 21 



IU. CYRILLEAE. Shrubs. Cal. free. Pet. and stam. hypogynous. Cells of caps 1 -seeded, (g) 



g Flowers 4-parted, Avith S stamens and a 2-celled capsule ELLIOTTII. 22 



g Flowers 5-parted, with 5 stamens and a 2-celled capsule C YUILLA. 23 



with 10 stamens. Capsule 3-celled, 2-winged MYLOCAKIUM. 24 



IV. PYROLE^E. Herbs evergreen, -woody. Cal. free. Pet. 5, distinct. Testa of sd. loose, (h) 



h Flowers racemed, many. Herbs nearly acaulescent PYROLA. 25 



h Flowers solitary (one only) Herb low, acaulescent MONESES. 26 



h Flowers umbeled, few. Stems ascending. Style very short CIIIMAPHILA. 27 



Y? GALACINEJ3. Herb evergreen, au caulescent. Filaments 10, monadelphous, 



alternately sterile ; anthers 5, one-celled. Capsule 3-celled, oo -seeded GALAX. 28 



VI. MONOTROPEJE. Herbs leafless, verdureless, with scale-like bracts, (k) 



k Corolla polypetalous. Plant white, reddish or tawny '.MONOTROPA. 29 



k Corolla monopetalous, campanulate, in a short spike SCHWEINITZIA. 80 



ovoid, in a loose raceme PTEKOSPOBA. 81 



