208 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



twice as many as the lobes or petals ; anthers 2-celled, often with awn-like appendages, 

 and frequently opening by pores at the summit. Sytlel. Ovary 3-10-celled. Fruit a 

 ten^ or capsule. Seeds small, with fleshy dlhumen. 



This is an interesting Order, — comprising some plants of a medicinal character, and a 

 number that are exceedingly beautiful — especially the Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Kalraias, 

 and many species of the multitudinous genus (Erica) which is the type of the family. 

 §1. Huckleberry Sub-family. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, which becomes a berry 



or berry-like fruit. Anther-cells nearly distinct, tapering upwards into a tube. 

 Ovary 10-celled, with a single ovule in each cell. Berry with 8-10 



largish seeds or nutlets. 1. Gaylussaqa. 



Ovary 4-5-celled, with several ovules in each cell. Berry many- 

 seeded. 2. Vaccinium. 

 § 2. Heath Sub-family. Calyx free from the ovary. Corolla some- 

 times of nearly or quite distinct petals. Seed-coat mostly thin and 

 close-fitting. 

 Fruit a berry or drupe. 



Corolla dropping off" after blossoming. 3. Akctostaphylos. 



Fruit berry-like ; the calyx becoming enlarged and fleshy. 



Anthers 4-awned at the top. 4. Gaultheria. 



Fruit a dry pod ; the calyx not enlarging. 



Corolla ovate or oblong cylindrical, 5-toothed. 5. Andromeda. 



Corolla bell-shaped or wheel-shaped, with 10 depressions or 



pouches. 6. Kalmia. 



Corolla of 5 separate petals. 7. Clethea. 



§ 3. Pyrola Sub-family. Calyx free from the ovary, 5-parted, per- 

 sistent. Corolla of 5 separate petals. Seeds with a loose transpa- 

 rent and cellular coat. 

 Flowers in a corymb or umbel. Style very short ; stigma broad and 



orbicular. ' 8. Chimaphila. 



1. GAYLUSSA'CIA, K B. K. Huckleberry 



[Dedicated to Gay Lussac, a distinguished French Chemist.] 



Corolla ovoid or bell-shaped ; the border 5-cleft. Stamens 10 ; anthers 

 awnless ; the cells tapering and tubular above, opening by a pore or 

 chink at the summit. Fruit a berry-like drupe, containing 10 nutlets. 

 Leaves mostly deciduous and entire. Branching shrubs, commonly 

 sprinkled with resinous dots, bearing white (purple or red tinged) flowers 

 in bracted racemes. 



1. G. frondo'sa, Torr. ^ Gr. Smooth ; leaves obovate-oblong, obtuse, 

 glaucous beneath ; bracts oblong or linear, deciduous, shorter than the 

 slender drooping pedicels ; corolla ovoid campauulate. 



Leafy Gaylussacia. Dangle-berry. Blue Tangles. 



Ste:m 3-5 feet high, branching; branches rather slender. Leaves 1-3 inches long, 

 tapering at each end but obtuse at the apex, cuneate at base, on very short petioles. 

 Racemes lateral, loose, few-flowered ; pedicels % an inch to an inch long, with two minute 

 subulate sub-opposite bractlets near the middle ; corolla white tinged with red. Berries 

 rather large, globose, dark blue, with a glaucous bloom when mature. 



Moist woods and thickets ; New England to Kentucky. May - June. 



2. G. resino'sa, Torr. ^ Gr. Pubescent while young ; leaves oblong 

 oval, at first ciliate and viscid with resinous dots ; pedicels short ; bracts 

 and bractlets (reddish) small and deciduous ; corolla ovoid-conical 

 Kesinous Gaylussacia. Black Huckleberry. 



stem 1-3 feet high, much branched. Leaves 1-3 inches long, thickly sprinkled with 

 atoms and flat shining patches of yellow resinous matter beneath ; petioles short but dis- 



