SUPPLEMENT. 
THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 
By CHarLEes Louis POLLARD. 
CHAPTER XXVIII.—Order Ericales. 
N Chapter X (p. 70) of the Supplement, it will be remembered that the 
distinctions between the two main divisions of dicotyledonous plants, 
the Archichlamydeae and Metachlamydeae, were explained at 
length. We have now discussed all the orders and families comprised 
in the first named group, or those in which the corolla in the flower is 
either wanting entirely, or composed of separate pieces (petals). We 
now pass to the consideration of a higher type ‘of floral structure, viz., 
that in which the corolla-segments are wnited into a single piece,—where- 
fore the group is sometimes called Sympetalae or Gamopetalae. It must 
not, however, be supposed that the union of petals is always complete. 
In the earlier families of the | series, such as those discussed in the present 
chapter, the coherence is very slight: or the petals are in somé cases 
actually distinct. From this condition to the long tubular or funnel form 
corollas of the Convolvulacéae, for instance, there is every gradation. 
The order Ericales is characterized by the superior ovary, free from: 
the calyx (except among thé blueberries, Vacciniaceae), and by the 
stamens which are free from the corolla, alternate with its lobes, ‘and as 
many or twice as many as the latter. The families included are the 
Clethraceae, Pyrolaceae, Lennoaceae, Ericaceae, Epacridaceae and 
Diapensiaceae, ‘all of which are very closely related, the first four having: 
been formerly regarded as a single family, the Ericaceae. 
Family Clethaaceae. White Alder Family. A single genus, 
Clethra, off about 30 species, inhabiting eastern North America, the Cen- 
tral and South American region, and Japan. They are shrubs and trees, 
with whitish or canescent foliage resembling in shape that of the alder. 
The flowers, which are borne in long, narrow racemes, are usually de- 
lightfully sweet-scented. The sepals and petals are 5, the latter only 
slightly united at the base. Stamens 10. Ovary 3-celled and 3-angled, 
becoming in fruit a 3-valved loculicidal capsule. 
The sweet-pepper bush is one of the summer-flowering shrubs in 
our eastern States. Its spicy racemes of white flowers are borne in 
