86 



THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



PLATE XXIV 



Fig. 1 



Fig. 2 



The Blaeberry {Vatcinium myrtillus), known 

 also as the Whortleberry, Bilberry, Whinberry, 

 Blueberry, or "Whorts" in various districts, a low 

 branched shrub 6 to 18 in. high, growing often in 

 large green patches. The flowers, which appear in 

 April, May, or June, are flesh - coloured, and the 

 berries, which are black with a purple bloom, 

 ripen in July and August ; they are agreeable to 

 the taste. 



The Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), known 

 also as the Bog Cranberry, Mossberry, Moorberry, 

 or Fenberry, a very low plant with a prostrate, 

 straggling, slender stem and small leaves. It is 

 found creeping on the surface of the moss in boggy 

 places. The flowers, which appear in June, July, 

 or August, are solitary and bright red, and the dark 

 red fruit is pleasant to the taste. This berry is 

 common in many parts of England, but is little 

 known in Scotland though the plant without the 

 berry is sometimes seen. Tlie berry ripens in 

 August. 



Fig. 3 



Fig. 4 



The Red Whortleberry or Cranberry 

 (Scotland) {Vaccinium vitis - idcea), also called 

 Clusterberry, Cowberry, Nutberry or Nubberry, 

 Craneberry and Crawberry, a low straggling shrub 

 with leaves resembling those of the box. The pink 

 flowers are in terminal drooping clusters, and the 

 berries are red. It flowers between June and August, 

 and the berries ripen in September. Its leaves are 

 to be distinguished from those of A rctostaphylos 

 uva-ursi by the dots on the under surface and the 

 rolled-back margins. 



The Red Bear Berry (Arctostaphyhs uva-ursi), 

 also called Grassack or Graashacks, a small trailing 

 evergreen shrub which grows in dry heathy and 

 rocky places. The leaves are finely reticulated, and 

 the berries are red and mealy, with hard angular 

 seeds. The rose-coloured flowers appear from June 

 to August in terminal clusters 



