ERICACE/E. 517 



in the cornfields of central and southern England, and appears occa- 

 sionally in the north and in some parts of Scotland, but has not been 

 found in Ireland. Fl. with the corn. The Venus s looking-glass of 

 our gardens (C. speculum) is a nearly allied species, common on the 

 Continent, with the same long capsule, but a much larger corolla, flat, 

 and exceeding the lobes of the calyx. These plants are now usually 

 considered as forming a distinct genus, under the name of Specularia. 



XLII. THE HEATH FAMILY. ERICACEAE. 



Shrubs, sometimes very low, creeping, and almost herbaceous, 

 or occasionally growing into small trees, with entire or toothed 

 undivided leaves, and flowers usually drooping, either solitary or 

 in small clusters or racemes in the axils of the leaves, or forming 

 short terminal, leafy racemes. Calyx of 4 or 5 divisions, either 

 free or with a tube adhering to the ovary. Corolla inferior or 

 superior, usually ovoid or globular, sometimes small and campanu- 

 late with 4 or 5 lobes, or (in the two last anomalous genera) with 

 4 or 5 nearly distinct petals. Stamens twice as many, or rarely 

 the same in number as the lobes of the corolla, and inserted within 

 the corolla but distinct from it ; anthers opening at the top with 

 two pores, or (in Monotropd) with transverse valves. Ovary hav- 

 ing usually as many (rarely apparently twice as many) cells as the 

 lobes of the corolla. Fruit a capsule or berry, with one or several 

 seeds in each cell ; the seeds very small, with a fleshy albumen. 



A large Order, widely spread over the whole world (excepting Aus- 

 tralia), especially in the temperate and colder regions, but not uncom- 

 mon also in hilly districts within the tropics. It is distinguished from 

 all British Monopetals, except Campa?tulacece, by the insertion of the 

 stamens, and from the latter Order by the shrubby habit, the shape of 

 the flower, and especially by the anthers opening in 2 small terminal 

 pores. 

 Calyx-tube adherent. Corolla superior. Leaves alternate, 



often toothed 1. Yaccinium. 



Sepals free. Corolla inferior. 



Undershrubs shrubs or trees. Corolla lobed. 

 Fruit a berry. Leaves alternate, often toothed. 



Tall shrub, or tree. Cells of the ovary with several 



ovules in each 2. Arbutus. 



Low, creeping shrubs. One ovule in each cell of the 



ovary 3. Bearberry. 



