LXXVI1I. ERICACEAE. 



367 



and roadsides, Can., N. Eng. ! to Ga. and 111. ! The strict, upright stem, is 

 furnished with distant, short, alternate, heart-reniform, veiny, stem-clasping 

 leaves, containg 1 4 crowded flowers in the concavity of their upper surface. 

 Flowers axillary and terminal, the upper clusters larger. Corolla blue or pur- 

 ple, with spreading segments, calyx segments acute, lanceolate. June, July. 



2. S. SPECULUM. Venus' Looking-glass. St. diffuse, very branching ; Ivs. ob- 

 long-crenate ; Jls. solitary ; scales at the base of the corolla sometimes wanting. 

 A pretty border flowernamed from the form of the blue corolla, which, resem- 

 bles a little, round, concave mirror (speculum). Aug. 



ORDER LXXVIII. ERICACEAE. HEATHWORTS. 



Plants shrubby or suffruticose, sometimes herbaceous. 



Lvs. simple, alternate or opposite, mostly evergreen, entire or toothed, without stipules. 



Inflorescence various. Cal. inferior or superior, 5- (seldom 4 C-) leaved or cleft, rarely entire. 



Cor. regular or spmewhat irregular. 45- (rarely 6-) cleft, the petals rarely almost distinct. 



Sta. Generally distinct and inserted with the corolla. [appendaged. 



Anth. as many or twic as many as the lobes of the corolla, 2-celled, generally opening by pores, often 



Embryo straight, lying in the axis of, or in the end of fleshy albumen. 



Genera 66, species 1086, diffused throughout all countries, but comparatively rare in the torrid zone. The 

 true Ericaceae (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 Vaccineae are chiefly natives of N. America. 



Properties. The Ericaceae are, in general, astringent and diuretic. Some of them yield a stimulating 1 

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

 nephritic complaints. An infusion of the leaves is astringent, demulcent and diuretic. Similar properties 

 are also possessed by the Pipsissiwa (Chimaphila umbellata). The species of Rhododendron and Kal- 

 mia are pervaded by a narcotic principle, rendering them (particularly their leaves) often actively poison- 

 ous. The honey collected from their flowers by bees appears to have been so to some of the soldiers in 

 the retreat of the immortal ten thousand (Xenophon's Anabasis). The berries of the Vaccineae (Whor- 

 tleberries, Blueberries and Cranberries,) and of Gaultheria procumbens (spicy Wintergreen) are esculent 

 and wholesome. 



9 



FIG. 48. 1. Azalea. procumbens. 2. A flower enlarged. 3. A stamen much enlarged, showing the 

 longitudinal dehiscence of each of the cells. 4. Cross section of a 5-celled capsule of Rhododendron, 

 showing the inflexed margins of the valves. 5. Pyrola secunda. 6. A flower enlarged. 7. A stamen 

 enlarged, showing the terminal tubes and pores. 8. Cross section of a 5-celled, many-seeded capsule. 

 8. Gaultheria procumbens. 10. A flower enlarged. 11. A berry. 12. Vertical section of the ovary, show- 

 ing the free, fleshy calyx. 13. Anther of Vaccinium Vitis Ideae. 14. Stamen of Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi. 

 15. Awned stamen of a Vaccinium. 



