ERICACEAE. 



521 



Caucasus. In Britain, thinly scattered 

 though widely diffused through the chief 

 part of our islands, but now rendered 

 much less plentiful than formerly from 

 the drainage and enclosure of waste 

 lands. Fl. summer. It is often con- 

 sidered as forming a distinct genus on 

 account of the shape of the corolla. 



Fig. 621. 



II. ARBUTUS. ARBUTUS. 



Shrubs or trees, with alternate, entire or toothed, evergreen leaves ; 

 the flowers in terminal panicles. Calyx inferior, of 5 small sepals. 

 Corolla ovoid, enclosing the 10 stamens. Ovary of 5 cells, with several 

 ovules in each. Fruit an indehiscent berry. 



A small genus, chiefly American, with 2 or 3 Asiatic species, one of 

 which extends into Europe. 



1. Common Arbutus. Arbutus Unedo, Linn. (Fig. 

 (Eng. Bot. -t. 2377. Arbutus. Strawberry -tree.) 



An evergreen shrub or bushy tree, 

 the young shoots often hairy, but other- 

 wise glabrous. Leaves shortly stalked, 

 ovate or oblong-lanceolate, toothed, and 

 shining on the upper side, 2 to 3 inches 

 long. Flowers in small, drooping termi- 

 nal panicles, scarcely so long as the 

 leaves, of a greenish white, often tinged 

 with pink. Berry red, globular, and 

 granulated, so as at a distance to re- 

 semble a strawberry, but dry and with- 

 out flavour. 



Frequent in hilly districts of south- 

 ern Europe, extending eastward almost 



VOL. II. 



622.) 



Fig. 622. 



