415. Epigaea.—Trailing arbutus. Gravel plant.

415. EPIGAEA.—TRAILING ARBUTUS. GRAVEL PLANT. The leaves of Epigae'a re'pens Linné. Habitat: North America, on woody hillsides. Ovate, about 50 mm. (2 in.) long, with heart-shaped base and mucronate apex; coriaceous; margin entire. They contain the same three principles that uva ursi does and have the same general medicinal properties, but are particularly valuable in those cases of local irritation of the urinary organs in which they have often given relief when uva ursi and buchu had failed. They are also claimed to be highly beneficial in lithic acid gravel. Dose: 15 to 60, gr. (1 to 4 Gm.), in decoction or fluidextract.
