ERICACE^. 



237 VACCINIUM. 



L. LATIFO'LIUM. 



Leaves oblong, revolute at the margin, ferruginous-tomentose beneath; 

 stiirrirns mostly but 5, as long as the calyx. Grows on the White Mts. 

 covering a large area; also on other high mountains, and in swamps. A 

 shrub 2—3 feet high, readily known by its leaves, which are smooth above, 

 clothed beneath with a dense ferruginous down, and strongly revolute or 

 replicate at the margin. The petioles and the younger twigs are also covered 

 with down. Leaves 1 — 2 inches long, nearly a third as wine. Corymbs 

 terminal, of about a dozen flowers. Petals 5, white. Pedicels nearly as long 

 as the leaves. Stamens 5—10, as long as the petals. Style somewhat declin- 

 ed. July. Labrador Tea. 



fi. palustrc; leaves narrower, almost linear; stamens mostly 10. I have 

 specimens of this variety which I cannot characterize as a distinct species. 



Suborder 2. VACCINES. 



Ovary adherent to the tube of the calyx, becoming a berry or di-upelike fruit. Shrubs with scat- 

 tered hares. 



10. VACCI'NIUM. 



Calyx superior, 4 — 5-toothecl ; corolla monopetalous, ovoid- 

 campanulate, with 4 — 5 revolute segments; stamens 8 — 10, 

 perigjnous; berry globose, 4 — 5-cellecl, many-seeded. 



A Lat. term of uncertain origin and application. A fine genus of under- 

 shrubs, with alternate, coriaceous, exstipulate leaves. Flowers racemose or 

 solitary, nodding, flesh-colored. Berries mostly eatable. 



* Leave.s deciduous, t Corolla urceolate. t Inflorescence racemose orl'asciculate. 



1. V. RESINO'SUM. 



Leaves oblong-oval, mostly obtuse, petiolate, entire, sprinkled with resinous 

 points and spots beneath ; racemes bracteate, short, secund; corollas tubular, 

 ovoid, .5-angled. This common shrub of our woods and pastures is about 2 

 feet high, very branching. Lvs. 1 — 2 inches long, one third as wide, rarely 

 acute, shining beneath with resinous patches and spots. Petioles a line in 

 length. Flowers in lateral, dense, corymbose clusters, small, drooping. 

 Pedicels as long as the corollas. Corollas contracted at the mouth, greenish 

 or yellowish purple, longer than the stamens but shorter than the style. 

 Berries black, globose, sweet and eatable, ripe in August. May. 



Black Wliortleberry. 



2. V. CORYMBO'SUM. L. V. fuscatum. .4i^ V. dismorphum. J^/x. 



Flowiering branches nearly leafless ; leaves oblong-oval, acute at each end, 

 mucronate, subentire, pubescent when young ; racemes short, sessile ; corolla 

 ovoid-cylindrical. A tall shrub, 4 — 8 feet high, growing in shady swamps 

 and by mud ponds. Branches few, the young ones green or purplish. Leaves 

 Bmoolh on both sides except a slight pubescence on the veins beneath, tipped 

 with a glandular point, formed by the prolonged midrib. Flowers numerous, 

 in short, nodding corymbose clusters, appearing in advance of the leaves. 

 Pedicels shorter than the corollas, with colored scales or bracts at base. 

 Corolla large for the genus, purplish-white, slightly contracted at the mouth. 

 Stamens included. Style often exserted. Berries large, black, often with a 

 tinge of purple, subacid. June. Hig/i Whortlebe.rry. 



