HEATH FAMILY 



ERICACEAE 



BEARBERRY. KINNIKINIC 



Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. 



Many members of this large family inhabit arctic and 

 high mountainous regions. The Azaleas and Rhododen- 

 drons of the eastern ranges are noted for their beauty, and 

 Blueberries, Huckleberries and 

 Cranberries are sought throughout 

 the country for their edible fruits. 

 Heather of Scotland is a particularly 

 famous member. Blueberries and 

 Azaleas are examples of the certain 

 kinds of plants in the family which 

 can be grown only in soil that is kept 

 acid. 



This trailing and much branched 

 shrub is found in dry sandy or rocky 

 soil throughout the northern part of the 

 continent from New Jersey, Missouri 

 and California to Labrador and Alaska. 

 Confirmed reports of this plant in Illi- 

 nois have been comparatively few, most 

 of them having come from counties 

 bordering Lake Michigan and one or 

 two from Peoria. 



The branches are 6-24 inches long 

 and spread over the ground to form a 

 complete cover. The leathery and ever- 

 green leaves have been much used in 

 medicine and were formerly mixed with 

 tobacco by the Indians and smoked. 



The flowers are produced in May and June. The small calyx 

 is 5-parted and persists on the fruit. The tubular white corolla 

 has 5 short teeth that are slightly recurved. There are 10 short 

 stamens whose anthers have 2 reflexed awns on the back, and 

 the pollen sacs open by pores at the upper end. There is i 

 pistil with a slender style. The ripe fruit is a red drupe contain- 

 ing 5 nutlets that cling together to form a solid stone edible to 

 bears, squirrels and birds, but not to man. 



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