Andromeda. ERICACE^. 435 



on both sides with minute bran-like scales, rusty colored underneath, obscurely denticulate. 

 Flowers solitary on short axillary spreading secund pedicels on the upper part of the branches, 

 forming leafy racemes. Bracteoles ovate, acuminate. Segments of the calyx acute. Corolla 

 about one-third of an inch long, white or tinged with purple. Filaments smooth : anthers 

 slender ; the cells tapering, but not awncd. Capsule roundish : valves of the epicarp opposite 

 the segments of the calyx, finally separating completely from the endocarp ; the carpels of 

 wliich also separate from each other, and split into two longitudinal valves. Seeds angular. 

 Swamps ; not uncommon, particularly in the northern part of the State. Fl. April and 

 May in the southern counties ; later in the north. Fr. July. This plant is also indigenous 

 to the northern parts of Europe. 



^3. Maria, -DC Cali/x deeply S-parted.- corolla ovoid-cylindrical: anthers oblong, awnless ; the 

 cells opening by an obliquely truncated orifice. Capsule conical ; the sutures thick and promi- 

 nent, at length separating and forming narrow supernumerary valves Leaves deciduous : 



floicers in umbellate fascicles. 



3. Andromeda Mariana, Linn. Kill-lamb. Stagger-bush. 



Leaves oval or oblong, rather acute at each end, somewhat coriaceous, entire, smooth above, 

 pale and somewhat pubescent underneath ; flowers in umbellate fascicles, on nearly leafless 

 branches ; lobes of the calyx foliaceous, lanceolate. — Linn. sp. \.p. 393; Bot. mag. t. 1579; 

 Miclix. fl.\. p. 256 ; Ell. sJc. 1. p. 493 ; Torr. Jl. 1. p. 419 ; Beck, bot. p. 217 ; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 2C0. Lyonia Mariana, D. <^ G. Don. Leucothoe Mariana, DC. prodr. 7. p. 602. 



A shrub 2-3 feet high, with few erect branches, and smooth gray bark sprinkled with 

 minute black dots. Leaves 2-3 inches long, often rather obtuse at the summit but always 

 acute at the base, slightly revolute on the margin, sprinkled with minute brownish dots 

 underneath ; the petiole 3-4 lines long. Flowers large and showy, forming a naked and 

 often elongated compound raceme; the fascicles nearjy sessile, 4 - lO-flowered, recurved, 

 about half an inch long. Calyx about two-thirds the length of the corolla, parted nearly to 

 the base; the segments acute. Corolla white or pale rose-color, about half an inch long. 

 Filaments hairy, linear-IanceoJate, doubly recurvfed : anther-cells with a large very oblique 

 terminal orifice. Ovary conical, prominently 5-angled : style shorter than the corolla, tapering : 

 stigma obscurely lobed. Capsule conical and contracted at the apex, somewhat 5-angled ; 

 the sutures very prominent and whitish, at length separating from the proper valves. Seeds 

 very numerous, clavate-cuneatc, the greater number of them often abortive. 



Dry sandy soils ; abundant in^ many places on Long Island, particularly on Hempstead 

 Plains. Fl. June - July ; sometimes again in the autumn. Fr. October. It is supposed 

 to be poisonous to lambs and calves, producing a disease called the staggers. 



55* 



