826 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



naturalized about the lakes of Killarney in Ireland, where it 

 attains the size of a small tree, one having been measured 9^ 

 inches in diameter. 



Shallon (Gaultheria shallon). A native of North -West 

 America. It is a low evergreen shrub, a foot or more in 

 height, having round leaves, and by its running under- 

 ground shoots covering a considerable extent of ground. It 

 generally grows in Pine forests, and produces an immense 

 number of purple berries, which are made by the natives 

 into bread. A smaller species, G. procumbens, is also a 

 native of North America, and grows like the preceding. Its 

 calyx becomes a fleshy berry, and affords food for game. In 

 the United States it is called Partridge-berry, as also Winter- 

 green. It has a peculiar spicy and aromatic odour, and has 

 been used as a substitute for tea. The odour is due to a 

 volatile oil which is obtained by distillation, called Winter- 

 green oil, and is used medicinally as a stimulant. 



Bear-berry (^Arbutus uva-ursi). A low trailing evergreen 

 shrub, with small leaves, abounding in mountainous districts 

 throughout Europe and North America. In this country it 

 is found in Wales, and is abundant in the Highlands of Scot- 

 land ; it has red berries, which afford food for grouse, and in 

 Sweden, Russia, and America for bears. The whole plant 

 is astringent, and is used for tanning and dyeing. 



Allied to Ericaceae is a small family called Cyrillaceas. It 

 consists of about six species, natives of tropical America 

 and Southern United States. They are neat simple-leaved 

 shrubs or small trees, of the nature of Andromeda, differing 

 from Ericacege by their anthers opening by slits, and in the 

 corolla being apparently polypetalous, and are therefore by 

 some botanists placed in the Barberry alliance. 



The Winter- Green Family. 



(Pyrolace^.) 



Pretty little evergreen low shrubs, spreading by under- 

 ground running stems. Leaves alternate simple. Flowers 



