Ericacecc Ledum. 287 



10. LEDUM. 



Small shrubs with evergreen revolute bullate leaves rusty- 

 tomentose beneath and terminal clusters of small white or 

 pinkish flowers. This genus is distinguished by having a 

 corolla of 5 separate petals and 5 stamens. The few species 

 known are found in swampy bogs of Europe, Asia, and 

 North America. 



1. L. palustre. This is the common European species, 

 growing from 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves distant, narrow, revo- 

 lute, distinctly petiolate. 



2. L. latifolium. An American plant very similar to No. 1, 

 but the leaves are oval or oblong, and scarcely recurved at the 

 margin, and the flowers are more numerous. Both bloom in 

 Spring. 



ORDER LXIV. STYRACACEJE. 



Shrubs or trees having simple alternate usually toothed 

 exstipulate leaves and regular hermaphrodite flowers. Calyx 

 free or adherent to the ovary. Corolla of 4 to 8 more or less 

 united petals, often differing in number from the calyx-lobes. 

 Stamens double the number of the corolla-lobes or frequently 

 more. Fruit drupaceous, or dry and winged, included in the 

 calyx-tube or inferior, 1- to 5-celled ; cells usually 1 -seeded ; 

 seeds albuminous. A small group of about six genera and up- 

 wards of a hundred species, best known in gardens by the 

 Snowdrop trees. The majority of the species are from the 

 tropics of America and Asia. 



1. HALESIA. 



Deciduous shrubs or small trees with petiolate venose leaves 

 and pure white flowers on slender drooping pedicels, solitary or 

 in small clusters from the buds of the preceding year. Calyx- 

 tube adherent to the ovary, surmounted by 4 small teeth. 

 Petals 4, united to about the middle in a bell-shaped corolla. 

 Stamens 8 to 16, united in a ring at the base of the corolla. 

 Fruit dry, 2- to 4-winged, with 1 to 4 bony 1 -seeded cells. 

 There are only three or four species, all limited to North 

 America. This genus commemorates the celebrated Dr. Hales, 

 author of ' Vegetable Statics,' etc. 



