[ 7 H ]
A R B U T U S Uva urfi.
R e d tra ilin g A rb u tu s.
DEC A NDR1A Monogynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-cleft. Cor. ovate; its orifice
5-cleft; its bafe tranfparent. Berry fuperior,
5-celled. Anthera with 2 pores.
Spec. Char. Stems procumbent. Leaves entire.
Syn. Arbutus Uva urfi. Linn. Sp. P I. 566. F I
Lapp. ed. 2. 129. t. 6. f . 3. Sm. F I. B rit. 443.
Hudf. 177. With . 399. Hull. 91. L igh tf. 216.
t. u . ƒ c, d. Woodv. Med. Bot. t. 70.
Vaccinia rubra, foliis myrtinis crifpjs. R a il Syn. 457.
N A T IV E of ftony barren alpine heaths. We have received
it from Durham by favour of the Rev. Mr. Harriman
and Mr. Oliver. Ray faw it growing in Lancafhire, but he
and Dillenius confounded it with the fynonyms of A. alpha,
fee the Synopfis, though Dr. Richardfon’s. account there given
is fufficient to afcertain it; and if any doubt remained, Mr.
Lightfoot’s finding this plant, not A. alpha, in the ifle of
Mull, would remove every uncertainty. It flowers in June.
The berries are faid to remain all winter, untouched by birds,
and the leaves are evergreen. Every part is extremely aftrin-
gent. It has been much recommended as a medicine in calculous
and gravelly complaints by the German practitioners,
but has not been found fuccefsful in this country.
The Items are long and trailing, branched, woody, clothed
with alternate, obovate, obtufe, entire, wrinkled, dark-green,
Alining leaves. Clufters terminal, drooping, of a few rofe-
coloured handfome flowers. Berries red, deprefled, auftere,
containing the rudiments of 8 or 10 feeds, of which 4 or 5
only in general are perfected. The ftamina vary from 8 to 10.
The anthers; are barbed with 3 briftles. Many perfons have
confounded this plant with Vaccinium Vitis Id tea, t. 598,
which fomewhat refembles it, but in that genus the germen
is inferior.