450 MANUAL OF NATUEAL HISTORY. 



somewhat monopetalous, 4 - 5-parted, decidu- 

 ous ; aestivation imbricated ; stamens twice 

 tlie number of the corolline divisions, free, 

 usually perfect ; anthers 2 - celled, dehiscing 

 by pores; ovary 4-5-celled; style one; 

 stigma slightly indusiate ; fruit capsular, 4-5- 

 celled ; seeds 0, loose-skinned ; embryo at 

 the base of the albumen. Occur in Europe, 

 Northern Asia, and North America. The 

 leaves oiChimaphila umbellata are employed 

 in medicine as actively diuretic. 



5. Family. — JEpacricls (Epacridaceso). Shrubs or 



small trees ; leaves alternate, exstipulate, 

 sometimes half- amplexicaul at the base ; 

 flowers in spikes or terminal racemes, or soli- 

 tary and axillary, usually white or purple ; 

 calyx mostly 5-partite, persistent ; corolla 

 monopetalous, 5-divided, deciduous ; aestiva- 

 tion imbricate or valvate ; stamens free, per- 

 fect, equal to corolline divisions ; anthers 

 1 -celled, opening longitudinally ; ovary usual- 

 ly several-celled ; style one ; stigma simple ; 

 fruit drupaceous, baccate, or capsular ; seeds 

 firm skinned. Natives of Australasia and 

 Polynesia, where they appear to represent 

 the Heaths. 



6. Family. — Umiri-Balsams (Humiriacese). Trees 



or shrubs ; leaves alternate, exstipulate ; 

 flowers in terminal or axillary cymes, or 

 corymbs ; calyx 5-divided ; petals alternate 

 with calycine divisions; stamens generally 



