n2 Heath ( Ericacece). [No. 14 



skies, I was shut in overhead by the tops of ancient trees, 

 and on the level by a curtaining screen of thick shrubbery, 

 and beneath by a carpet that was woven and figured with 

 fallen branches and rocks and leaves and deep, velvet-soft 

 moss. As I looked more closely I saw that this moss was 

 threaded everywhere with the delicate, creeping snow- 

 berry, in fruit. 



(3) Genus Arctostaphylos, Adans. 



From two Greek words meaning " bear" and " grapes." 



Fig. 56. — Bearberry. Dogberry. A. Uva-iirsi, Spreng. 



Flowers, somewhat resembling those of the related Trail- 

 ing Arbutus, whitish, in short, terminal, drooping 

 clusters. Corolla, egg- or urn-shape, five-toothed, the 

 teeth turned back, hairy within. Calyx, reddish, 

 five-parted, persistent. Stamens, ten, not exserted. 

 Anthers, each with two hairs on the back near the 

 apex. Filaments, hairy. Seed-case, free. May. 



Leaves, evergreen, about one inch in length (sometimes 

 shorter), simple, alternate, smooth, entire, reverse 

 egg-shape or spatulate, thick and rigid, with short 

 stems. 



Fruit, round, about the size of a currant, red, rather in- 

 sipid. Nutlets, five, firmly united. A berry-like 

 drupe. 



Found, in the most barren places — on gravelly hills and in 

 dry woods — from New Jersey (where it is very com- 

 mon in the sandy pine-barrens), and Pennsylvania to 

 Missouri, and far northward, often covering the 

 ground in broad patches. 



