Order 6. Vacciniaceæ (Bilberries). The flower (Fig. [546]) is epigynous, the corolla gamopetalous, and the fruit a berry. The latter is most frequently spherical, and bears on its apex the calyx, which is generally very low, almost entire, and with a disc-like expansion inside. The flower is 4- or 5-merous (Fig. [546] B, D). The anthers have 2 pores, and are most frequently 2-horned (Fig. [546] F, G). Small shrubs; the leaves are scattered, not needle-like.
Vaccinium (Bilberry, Whortleberry) has an urceolate, gamopetalous, only slightly dentate corolla, and horn-like appendages to the anthers (Fig. [546]). V. vitis idæa (Cowberry) is evergreen, with flowers in racemes, and bright red berries; V. myrtillus (Bilberry) and V. uliginosum (Bog Whortleberry) both have black berries with a blue bloom, leaves deciduous.—Oxycoccus has a polypetalous corolla with the petals projecting backwards. Anthers without appendages. O. palustris (Cranberry) has a slender, creeping stem, and is evergreen. Dark red berry.
Pollination essentially the same as the preceding order.—320 species; especially in N. Am. Some are useful on account of their edible fruits, especially Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idæa, and in a less degree Oxycoccus, etc. The fruits of V. myrtillus are officinal.
Fig. 546.—Vaccinium uliginosum (var. microphyllum). The parts of the flower A-E are enlarged 5–6 times; C and E are longitudinal sections; B and D the flower seen from above; F and G a stamen seen from the back and front; H the style and stigma.
Family 27. Diospyrinæ.
The flowers are regular, gamopetalous, typically diplostemonous, with the same number throughout all 5 whorls, thus: Sn, Pn, An + n, Gn, where n most frequently =5 (4–6), rarely 3, 7 or 8. Of the two whorls of stamens the one opposite the sepals is often present only as rudiments or is entirely suppressed, and the completely developed stamens are thus placed opposite the petals. The carpels are generally placed opposite the sepals. The ovary is multilocular with the ovules attached in the inner angles. The fruit is most frequently a berry. The seeds are large, generally solitary, or a few in each loculus.—All plants belonging to this family are trees or shrubs with scattered, single, most frequently entire, penninerved and leathery leaves without stipules; the majority are tropical (America, Asia), some are found in N. Am. and the Mediterranean.
Order 1. Sapotaceæ. Plants with latex; anthers extrorse, 1 erect ovule in each loculus; fruit a berry; the seeds with bony, shiny brown testa have a large, lateral hilum. The leaves are frequently covered with silky hairs.—A useful order in several respects (400 tropical species). The wood of some genera, such as Sideroxylon (Iron wood) and Bumelia, is as hard as iron. The latex of Palaquium (P. oblongifolium, P. gutta, and other species), Mimusops and Payena (Sumatra, E. Ind.), is the raw material of gutta percha. The following have very delicious fruits: Lucuma mammosa, Achras sapota, Chrysophyllum cainito (Star-apple), etc. The seeds of Bassia (E. Ind.) contain a large quantity of a fatty oil. Isonandra, Mimusops schimperi are often found in the Egyptian royal tombs.
Order 2. Ebenaceæ. Plants without latex, often diœcious; flowers with a more or less leathery perianth. The number of stamens is sometimes increased (by splitting?); ovules 1–2, pendulous in each loculus. Fruit a berry.—250 species; chiefly tropical. Some are well known on account of their hard and black-coloured heart-wood, e.g. Maba ebenus (the Moluccas) and Diospyros ebenum (Ebony-wood, from Tropical Asia) and others.—The fruits are edible e.g. of Diospyros lotus (Date-plum, Asia), which is also cultivated as an ornamental shrub, together with several other species.
Order 3. Styracaceæ. The flower is more or less epigynous, and the corolla is almost polypetalous. The stamens (by splitting?) are more than double the number of the petals, and often united at the base. Stellate hairs are frequent.—235 species; Tropical Asia and America, a few for example in the East.—Officinal: Gum-benzoin from Styrax benzoin and perhaps other species (Sumatra and Siam). Halesia tetraptera (N. Am.) is an ornamental shrub with 4-winged fruits.