XIV. THE PLYMOUTH CROWBERRY. 320 
FAMILY XIV. THE CROWBERRY FAMILY. EMPETRA‘CEZ. 
Nurrauu. 
This forms a small group of heath-like plants, natives of the 
northern temperate zone and the southern extremity of South 
America. It consists of low under-shrubs, with simple, entire, 
coriaceous leaves, scattered or verticillate, often revolute, without 
stipules. Flowers in the axils of the upper leaves, stertle, fertile, 
and perfect, on different or on the same plants, with a calyx 
of persistent, imbricated scales; stamens equal in number and 
alternate with the sepals; anthers two-celled, the cells distinct, 
bursting longitudinally. Ovary three to nine-celled; ovules 
solitary, ascending; stigma radiating, the number of its rays 
equal to that of the cells. Fruit fleshy, globular, three to nine- 
celled, three to nine-seeded. 
This family was proposed by Mr. Nuttall, to contain the 
Eimpétrum and Ceratiola. It includes only these and Coréma, 
and the genus found im this State, Oakésia. Mr. Nuttall point- 
ed out its distant affinity to Tarus among the Conifere. The 
resemblance to the Heaths in appearance and habit is striking. 
Little 1s known of the properties of this family. Linneus 
informs us that the fruit of E’mpétrum nigrum, of the north of 
Europe, is eaten by many animals, and even by man. 
Of this family, I believe there is but one plant known in 
Massachusetts. It is the— 
OAKESIA. Tuckerman. 
Of which there is one species, 
Tue Prymouta Crowserry. Oakésia Conradi. Tuckerman. 
First noticed by Mr. Conrad among the pine barrens of New 
Jersey, and called after that gentleman by Dr. Torrey; sepa- 
rated from Eimpétrum, and called Tuckermdania, by Dr. Klotzch, 
in honor of Mr. Edward Tuckerman, but named by the latter 
Oakésia, in honor of William Oakes, Esq. 
