28 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
Stem branched, woody, with brown bark, peeling off as in 
A. alpina. Leaves \ to 1 inch long, very thick and leathery ; bear- 
ing some resemblance to those of Vaccininm Vitis-idsea, but more 
coriaceous, with the margin not reflexed, and the under side beau- 
tifully netted with prominent veins, and without glandular dots. 
Calyx-segments very broadly ovate, scarious, reddish. Corolla pale- 
rose with the tip darker. Anthers chocolate-brown. Berry the size 
of a small currant, very bright-red, with a tough skin. 
Common Bearberry. 
French, Arbousier Busserole. German, Gemeine Barentraube. 
The leaves of the Bearberry are powerfully astringent, and are of so potent a 
chai-acter as to secure for the plant a place not only in the old herbals of our country, 
but in the modern Pharmacopoeias, including the recent edition of the British Phar- 
macopoeia. They contain a large quantity of tannin. Meipher found the dried leaves 
to contain 364 per cent, of tannin, with a little gum, resin extractive, and other 
unimportant ingredients. An extract of these leaves has long been valued for its 
beneficial action on various organs of the body. In diseases of the kidneys and mucous 
membranes it is highly esteemed, and it appears to have a soothing as well as astringent 
effect. Unfortunately the leaves are ofcen adulterated with those of the cowberry, 
which may, however, be distinguished by the glandular dots on the under surface, and 
the minute serratures on the edge. The berries form an excellent food for game of all 
kinds, and in Sweden the leaves are used for tanning leather. An ash-coloured dye is 
said to be obtained from the plant in Scandinavian countries. 
GENUS III— A RBUTUS. Tournef. 
Calyx free from the ovary, 5-partite. Corolla hypogynous, 
deciduous, monopetalous, globose- or ovoid-urceolate, with 5 re- 
flexed teeth. Stamens 10 ; filaments short ; anthers bent down, 
appearing as if affixed by the apex, each one with 2 pores and 2 
awns close to the point of attachment. Fruit a berry, with 5 cells, 
each containing several seeds ; surface of the berry rough, with 
projecting points. 
Shrubs or small trees, with alternate obovate entire or serrate 
evergreen leaves, and white or pink flowers in terminal panicles. 
Inflorescence-buds scaly. 
The name of this genus of plants is probably derived from arbusium, a group of 
trees, from its shrubby habit. 
SPECIES I.— ARBUTUS UNEDO. Linn. 
Plate DCCCLXXXII. 
Reich, lc. PL Germ, efc Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MCLXVII. Pigs. 1 2. 
BiUot, FL Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2708. 
