(Bowie Co.), Mar.-May; from Tex. to Fla., n. to Mass., N.Y., s. Ont., O., Ind. 

 and Mo. 



This is a highly variable species and, east of Texas, a number of segregates have 

 been proposed based on the presence or lack of pubescence and glaucousness of the 

 leaves, stems, hypanthium and calyx. Most of these unstable variants can probably 

 be found in our flora but they are scarcely worth recognizing. 



2. Vaccinium caesium Greene. 



Small shrubs mostly less than 5 dm. high, pubescent to glabrate; leaves green or 

 somewhat whitened beneath, typically oblong-elliptic, rounded to subcordate at 

 base, usually bluntly obtuse-apiculate at apex, to 5 cm. long; bracts of inflorescence 

 similar in shape to foliage leaves and one half to nearly as long as them, 1-2 cm. 

 wide, noticeably exceeding the pedicels. 



In wettish savannahs and open pine-hardwood forests in e. Tex., rare, Mar.- 

 Apr.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to W.Va. and Pa. 



This dubious species is distinguished from V. stamineum solely in having small, 

 bluntly rounded foliage leaves, and bracts of the racemes 1-2 cm. wide and one 

 half to nearly as large as the foliage leaves. 



3. Vaccinium virgatum Ait. 



Shrubs in rather extensive colonies, rarely more than 1 m. high; leaves decidu- 

 ous, green, the lower surface conspicuously glandular, pubescent along the midrib 

 or sometimes glabrous, spatulate to oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, narrowly 

 cuneate at base, acute to acuminate at apex, usually 3-4.5 (sometimes 5) cm. long 

 and 1-1.5 (sometimes 2) cm. wide, the margin sharply serrate; corolla cylindric- 

 urceolate, 6-9 mm. long, pink-tinged, often conspicuously so; fruit usually shiny- 

 black, 6-10 mm. in diameter, generally of poor flavor and texture. 



Mostly along streams in open forests, in boggy areas and flatwoods in e. Tex. 

 and Okla. {Waterfall), Mar.-Apr.; from n. Fla., Ga. and Ala., w. to Tex. and 

 Okla. 



This species and V. amoenum are separated entirely upon size-differences of 

 certain organs as given in the key. Although such a basis for separating species 

 is usually eschewed, this particular characteristic for these two entities is remark- 

 ably constant. 



4. Vaccinium amoenum Ait. 



Plants suckering to form dense clumps that are occasionally a meter or more in 

 diameter at the base, sometimes crown-forming, 15-25 dm. high; leaves deciduous, 

 dark-green or rarely slightly glaucescent, the lower surface bearing conspicuous 

 glands, pubescent along the veins or rarely glabrescent, obovate to oblanceolate 

 or elliptic, cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, 4-5 (rarely to 6.5) cm. long and 

 15-25 (rarely to 30) mm. wide, the margin sharply serrate; corolla narrowly to 

 broadly cylindric-urceolate, 9-12 mm. long, often deep-pink; fruit black or dark- 

 blue, 8-10 mm. in diameter, usually thick-skinned and of unpleasant flavor. 



Usually along streams in woodlands and on edge of woods and in wettish savan- 

 nahs in e. Tex., Mar.-May; from S. C. to n. Fla., w. to Tex. and Ark. 



5. Vaccinium Elliottii Chapm. Elliott's blueberry. 



Plants crown-forming or sometimes in much-restricted colonies, 2-4 m. high; 

 leaves deciduous, usually thin-textured, green and shining, the lower surface non- 

 glandular, glabrous to puberulent or even pubescent, usually broadly elliptic, to 

 3 cm. long and 15 mm. wide, the margins serrate or rarely subentire; corolla nar- 

 rowly urceolate, 6-7 mm. long, usually some shade of pink; fruit usually dark, 

 sometimes black and shining but often dull and occasionally glaucous, 5-8 mm. 

 in diameter or larger in some forms, the flavor fair to poor. 



1270 



