342 THE HEATH FAMILY. 



latter Order by the shrubby habit, the shape of the flower, and especially by 

 the anthers opening in 2 small terminal pores. 



Calyx-tube adherent. Corolla superior. LeaTe3 alternate, often 



toothed 1. Vaccihidm. 



Sepals free. Corolla inferior. 

 Fruit a berry. Leaves alternate, often toothed. 



Tall shrub, or tree. Cells oi' the ovary with several ovules in 



each 2. Akbuttjs. 



Low, creeping shrubs. One ovule in each cell of the ovary . . 3. Beaebebet. 

 Fruit a dry capsule. Leaves usually small and entire. 



Stamens 5. Leaves very small, opposite .5. Loiselehkia. 



Stamens 8. 



CoroUa deciduous. Leaves scattered, white underneath . . 6. Mehzibsia. 

 Corolla remaining till the capsule is ripe. Leaves opposite 



or whorled 7. Heath. 



Stamens 10. Leaves alternate. 



Capsule opening by slits in the middle of the ceUs. Flowers 



pink 4. Andeomeda. 



Capsule opening by the splitting of the partitions. Flowers 



purpUsh-blue 6. Mbhziesia. 



The Mhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, and other genera of our so-called 

 American gardens, belong also to the Heath family, which comprises perhaps 

 more ornamental plants than any other Order. The Epaerises and aUied 

 plants which flower in such perfection in our greenhouses in early spring, 

 t'orm a closely aUied family, which replaces the Heaths in Australia. 



I. VACCINZUra. VACCINIUM. 



Low shrtibs, with alternate leaves, and flowers usually sohtary, or only 

 two or thi-ee together. Calyx with a short tube adhei'ing to the ovary, and 

 4 or 5 small teeth. CoroUa superior, with as many teeth or divisions. Sta- 

 mens twice as many. Berry globular, with several seeds (or, at any rate, 

 several ovules, in the young state) in each ceU. 



A numerous genus in mountainous districts or boggy heaths, over a great 

 part ofthe globe, now usuaUy considered as forming a distinct famUy, separated 

 from that of the Heaths on account of the inferior ovary ; but this character, 

 however important it may be in many cases, is, in this instance, very arti- 

 ficial. Vaecinium has also been divided into numerous genera, chiefly ac- 

 cording to the form of the coroUa ; and many of them, including the bril- 

 Uant Thihaudias, occasionaUy grovm in our stoves, must undoubtedly be 

 adopted as such, although then- characters are as yet far from being settled. 



Stems erect or decumbent at the base. Leaves deciduous. Anthers 

 with 2 httle awns or points on the back. Berries black or bluish. 



Branches angular. Leaves toothed 1. Bilberry V. 



Branches terete. Leaves entire 3. £og V, 



Stems prostrate or creeping. Leaves evergreen. Anthers without 

 awns. Berries red. 



Leaves obovate, firm. CoroUa campanulate 3. Cowberry V. 



Leaves small, ovate or lanceolate. Stem slender. Corolla spread- 

 ing, with reflexed lobes 4. Cranberry V. 



1. Bilberry Vaecinium. Vaecinium Myrtillus, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 456. Bilberry. Whortleberry?) 



A smaU, glabrous shrub, with numerous erect or spreading, angular, green 



branches, 6 inches to a foot high, or rather more. Leaves deciduous, ovate, 



often slightly cordate at the base, seldom an inch long, bordered with small 



•teeth, and scarcely stalked. Flowers nearly globular, of a pale greenish- 



