and
south, and occasionally cultivated. The plant is dioecious; the
fertile specimens are rendered quite conspicuous in autumn by their very
long, white pappus.

ORDER =XXV. ERICACEAE.= (HEATH FAMILY.)

A large order, mainly of shrubs, though a few species are herbs, and
fewer still are tall enough to be considered trees.

GENUS =50. OXYDENDRUM.=

Trees with deciduous, alternate, oblong-lanceolate, pointed, serrate,
sour-tasting leaves. Flowers small, in large panicles at the ends of the
branches. In summer. Fruit small, dry capsules, with 5 cells and many
seeds.

[Illustration: O. arboreum.]

=Oxydendrum arboreum=, DC. (SORREL-TREE. SOURWOOD.) Leaves in size and
shape much like those of Peach trees. Flowers small, urn-shaped.
Small-sized tree, 15 to 50 ft. high; wild in rich woods, Pennsylvania
and southward, mainly in the mountains. Rare in cultivation, but very
beautiful, especially in autumn, when its leaves are brilliantly
colored, and the panicles of fruit still remain on the trees. It is
perfectly hardy both at the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, and the Missouri
Botanical Garden, St. Louis.

GENUS =51. KALMIA.=

Evergreen shrubs with alternate, entire, thick, smooth leaves. Flowers
large, beautiful, cup-shaped, in showy clusters. Fruit a small,
5-celled, many-seeded capsule.

[Illustration: K. latifolia.]

=Kalmia latifolia=, L. (MOUNTAIN-LAUREL. CALICO-BUSH.) The only species
which grows at all tree-like has ovate-lanceolate or elliptical, smooth,
petioled leaves, tapering at both ends and green on both sides. Flowers
in terminal corymbs, clammy-pubescent, white to pink. June. Pod
depressed, glandular. Shrub or small tree, 4 to 25 ft. high, with
reddish twigs; wild in rocky hills and damp soils through out;
occasionally planted. Wood very hard and close-grained.

GENUS =52. RHODODENDRON.=

Shrubs or low trees with usually alternate, entire leaves and showy
flowers in umbel-like clusters from large, scaly-bracted, terminal buds.
Fruit a dry 5-celled pod with many seeds.

[Illustration: R. maximum.]

=Rhododendron maximum=, L. (GREAT LAUREL.) Leaves thick, 4 to 10 in.
long, elliptical-oblong or lance-oblong, acute, narrowed toward the
base, very smooth, with somewhat revolute margins. Flowers large (1
in.), with an irregular bell-shaped corolla and sticky stems, in large
clusters, white or slightly pinkish with yellowish dots. July. Evergreen
shrub or tree, 6 to 20 ft. high, throughout the