738 



THE EMPETRUM FAMILY. 



Fig. 891. 



In Lilly, rocky, chiefly limestone dis- 

 tricts, in western and southern Europe, 

 extending eastward to the Caucasus and 

 northward into many parts of central 

 and western France. In Britain, only 

 in some localities in southern England, 

 and even there it is doubted whether it 

 may not have been introduced, as it has 

 long been much planted in shrubberies. 

 FL spring. The Box used for edging in 

 gardens is a dwarf variety of the same 

 species. 



LXVII. EMPETRUM FAMILY. EMPETRACE^. 



A family or genus of six or seven European or North American 

 species, whose affinities have not been satisfactorily made out. 

 The structure and position of the seeds prevent its union with 

 the Spurge family, to which it might in other respects be techni- 

 cally referred. 



I. CROWBERRY. EMPETRUM. 



Low, creeping, heath-like shrubs, with small, crowded, entire, ever- 

 green leaves, and minute, axillary, dioecious flowers. Perianth of 6 

 scales in 2 rows, with 6 external, similar, but smaller bracts. Stamens 

 3 in the male flowers. Style in the females very short, divided into 

 6 or more radiating and toothed or divided stigmas. Ovary with as 

 many cells as stigmas, and a single erect ovule in each. Fruit a small 

 berry-like drupe, containing several small 1-seeded stones. Embryo 

 slender, in a copious albumen. 



1. Common Crowberry. Empetrum nigrum, Linn. 

 (Fig. 892.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 526.) 



A glabrous plant, forming spreading, thickly branched tufts, like 

 those of the trailing Loiseleuria, often a foot in diameter ; the crowded 



