28 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Stem branched, woody, with brown bark, peeling off as in 

 A. alpina. Leaves ^ to 1 inch long, very thick and leathery ; bear- 

 ing some resemblance to those of Vaccinium Vitis-idrea, but more 

 coriaceous, with the margin not reflexed, and the under side beau- 

 tifully netted with prominent veins, and without glandular dots. 

 Calyx-segments very broadly ovate, scarious, reddish. Corolla pale- 

 rose with the tip darker. Anthers chocolate-brown. Berry the size 

 of a small currant, very bright-red, with a tough skin. 



Common Bearberry. 



French, Arbouskr Busserole. German, Gemcine Biirentraube. 



The leaves of the Bearberry are powerfully astringent, and are of so potent a 

 character as to secure for the plant a place not only in the old herbals of our country, 

 but in the modern Fharniacopceias, including the recent edition of the British Phar- 

 macopoeia. They contain a large quantity of tannin. Meipher found the dried leaves 

 to contain 3C4 per cent, of tannin, with a little gum, resin extractive, and other 

 unimportant ingredients. An extract of these leaves has long been valued for its 

 beneficial action on various organs of the body. In diseases of the kidneys and mucous 

 membranes it is highly esteemed, and it appears to have a soothing as well as astringent 

 effect. Unfortunately the leaves are often adulterated with those of the cowberry, 

 which may, however, be distinguished by the glandular dots on the under surface, and 

 the minute serratures on the edge. The berries form an excellent food for game of all 

 kinds, and in Sweden the leaves are used for tanning leather. An ash- coloured dye is 

 said to be obtained from the plant in Scandinavian countries. 



GENUS III.— A RBUTUS. Tournef. 



Calyx free from the ovary, 5-partitc. Corolla hypoijynous, 

 deciduous, monopetalous, globose- or ovoid-urceolate, with 5 re- 

 flexed teeth. Stamens 10; filaments short; anthers bent down, 

 appearing as if affixed by the apex, each one with 2 pores and 2 

 awns close to the point of attachment. Fruit a berry, with 5 cells, 

 each containing several seeds ; surface of the berry rough, with 

 projecting points. 



Shrubs or small trees, with alternate obovate entire or serrate 

 evergreen leaves, and white or pink flowers in terminal panicles. 

 Inflorescence-buds scaly. 



The name of this genus of plants is probably derived from arbustum^ a group of 

 trees, from its shrubby habit. 



SPECIES I.-AEBUTUS UNEDO. Limn. 



Plate DCCCLXXXII. 



Reich, K. I'l. Germ, et Ilelv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MCLXVil. Figs. 1 2. 

 Billot, El Gall et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2708. 



