2506

AIIBORETUAI AND FUUTICETU.M.

PART HI.

CHAP. CXIV.

OP THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER EMPETRA'CE.*.

Identification. Nutt. Gen., 2. 233.; Don in Edinb. New Phil. Journ., 1826; Hook in Bot. Mag.,t. 2758.; LindL Syn., 224.; Bart. Ord. Nat., 372. ; Arnott in Edinb. Encyc. , 129.

Gen, Char, of the Order. Flowers semi-sexual. Sepals hypogynous im-bricated scales, the innermost of which are sometimes petaloid. Stamensequal in number to the inner sepals, and alternate with them ; anthersroundish, 2-celled, the cells distinct, bursting longitudinally. Ovary superior,seated in a fleshy disk, 3- 6- or 9-celled; ovules solitary, ascending. Style 1 ;stigma radiating, the number of its rays corresponding with the cells of theovary. Fruit fleshy, seated in the persistent calyx, 3- 6- or 9-celled; thecoating of the cells bony. Seeds solitary, ascending ; embryo taper, in theaxis of fleshy watery albumen; radicle inferior. Small shrubs, with heath-likeevergreen leaves, without stipules, and with minute flowers in their axils.A very small group, comprising a few species from North America , the southof Europe, and the Straits of Magellan . {Lindt. Nat. Syst. of Bot., p. 117.)The fruit is in all a small berry.

There are only three genera, which are as follows : —

JS'mpetrum L. Calyx 3-leaved, coriaceous, with 6 imbricated scales at thebase. Petals 3. Stamens 3. Stigma 6—9-cleft. Berry depressed, 6 — 9-stoned. Small, branchy, procumbent shrubs; natives of the north ofEurope and the Straits of Magellan . Leaves alternate, linear tongue-shaped, obtuse; flat above, convex and marked with a membranaceous linebeneath ; dark green, shining. Flowers axillary, solitary, sessile, dark red.Berries black or red. (D. Don in Edinb. New Phil. Journ.).

Core'ma D. Don. Calyx 3-leaved, membranaceous, naked at the base.Petals 3. Stamens 3. Stigma 6-cleft. Berry globose, 3-stoned. A small,erect, branchy, rigid shrub, covered with resinous dots; a native of thesouth of Europe . Leaves scattered, linear, obtuse, spreading ; flattish above,revolute on the margin. Flowers in terminal heads, sessile, situated on ahairy disk; white, large. Heads having villous scales. Berries white.(X). Don in Edinb. New Phil. Journ.)

Cerati'ola Rich. Calyx 2-leaved, membranaceous, with 4 scales at the base.Petals 2, converging into a tube. Stamens 2. Stigma 6-cleft. Berryglobose, 2-stoned. A small, upright, branchy, rigid shrub; a native ofNorth America . Branches straight, simple. Leaves alternate, spreading,needle-shaped, obtuse, glabrous, shining, green; marked beneath with anarrow furrow; slightly canaliculate above; about ^ in. long; sometimescrowded, as if verticillate. Flowers axillary, sessile, numerous (2—4),rarely solitary; sometimes (like the leaves) verticillate. Berries red,?( D. Don in Edinb. New Phil. Journ.)

Genus I.

jE'MPETRUM L. The Crowberry. Lin. Syst. Dice'cia Triandria.Identification. Lin. Gen., 515.; Juss., 162.; FI. Br., 1072.; Tourn., t. 421.; Lamb., t. 803., Garin.,Derivation. From cn, upon, and pctrvs , a rock; in allusion to the place of growth.