164 GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS 



of the greatly enlarged and fleshy calyx, which surrounds the 

 small thin-walled capsule, 5-celled. Seeds numerous, attached to 

 the axis, small, slightly reticulated on the surface, embryo in the 

 axis of fleshy endosperm. 



Habitat. This pretty little creeping shrub grows in shady 

 woods, on sandy soil, especially in mountainous districts, in the 

 southern parts of Canada and the northern United States, 

 extending as far south as North Carolina. It is especially 

 abundant in the pine-barrens of New Jersey. The whole plant 

 has a pleasant aromatic flavour, and is evergreen, but the leaves 

 frequently assume brilliant autumnal colouring. The structure 

 of the so-called berry is very singular; the capsule itself is 

 described by American writers as dehiscent with 5 valves ; Salisbury 

 considers it to be indehiscent, but rotting and crumbling away, 

 when the placentas easily fall away from the axis. The plant 

 was introduced into England by P. Miller in 1762 and is quite 

 hardy here, flowering and fruiting almost throughout the year. 



DC. Prod., 1. c., p. 592; Hook., PI. Bor. Am., ii, p. 35; A. Gray, 

 Man. Bot. U. S., p. 293; Chapman, PL South. States, p. 261 j 

 Lindl., Med. Bot., p. 381. 



Official Part and Name. GAULTHEEIA. The leaves (U. S. P.). 

 Not official in the British Pharmacopoeia, or the Pharmacopoeia 

 of India. 



General Characters and Composition. The botanical characters 

 of these leaves have been already given. They have a very 

 peculiar, aromatic, agreeable odour and taste, and a marked 

 astringency. 



The aromatic properties reside in a volatile oil, which may be 

 separated by distillation. It is commonly known in England 

 under the name of Oil of Winter Green. A similar oil may be 

 obtained from the bark of Betula lenta or Sweet Birch, and is also 

 supposed to exist in other plants. It is the heaviest of all the 

 known essential oils, having the sp. gr. 1*173, which character 

 affords a convenient test of its purity. Gaultheria also contains 

 tannic acid, to which its astringency is due. 



