THE ARBUTUS. 



1,U 



Tree (^Ir- 

 bzitiis Uncdo, 

 Fig. p. .17) are found 

 here, but it is 

 usually ab- 

 undant in the 

 Maquis. Its 

 strawberry -hke fruits 

 are sold in the 

 markets of the Riviera. The ,\r- 

 butus does not look much like a 

 Ileath, nevertheless it belongfs 

 to the same famil)', the Erica- 

 ceae. There is no resemblance in the 

 foliage, but the structure of the flowers 

 is similar. These latter are bell-shaped, 

 the Heath, but much larger, and liang dc 

 u'hite panicles. The evergreen, ovate 

 at the edge, are ver\' like those of the Laurel. The 

 fruits ripen ver)' slowly, and may often be seen on the 

 tree at the same time as the flowers. The}' arc subacid 

 but insipid; hence I''lin'\- calls them "Unedo" from "unum 

 tantum edo" (I eat only one). Arbutus twigs served 

 the Roman populace as charms. The posts and 

 thresholds of doors were struck three times with 

 these twigs to prevent the entrance of vampires, 

 which were believed to suck the heart -blood from 

 children in their cradles. A twig of the lucky White- 

 thorn placed in the bedroom window likewise kept off 

 these unhoh' creatures. 



