VACCINIACEiE. 221 



of the corolla. Ovary inferior, 4 — 5-celled ; style and stigma 

 simple. Berry crowned with the persistent limb of the calyx, 

 succulent, manyji^ded. Seeds minute. — Shrubs or small 

 trees, with the leaVes often evergreen. 



1. VACCINIUM.—Lw7t. Whortleberry. 



(Etymology unknown. ) 



Calyx adherent to the ovary, 4 — 5 -toothed. Corolla urceo- 

 late, cylindric, campanulate or somewhat rotate, 4 — 5-cleft. 

 Stamens 8 — 10, inserted on the ovary. Berry globose, 4 — 10- 

 celled, many- (or by abortion few-) seeded. 



* Leaves deciduous. 

 •(" Corolla campoMulate. 



1. V. stamhieum Linn. : much branched, the younger branches pubes- 

 cent; leaves ovate or oval, acute, very entire, glaucous beneath; pedicels 

 solitary, axillary, filiform, nodding ; corolla campanulate, spreading ; an- 

 thers exserted, with two awns on the back. V. album Pursh. 



Dry woods. Can. to Flor. W. to Miss. May, June. \i.—Stem 2—3 feet 

 high, diffusely branched. Flowers white, on the lateral branches of the stem 

 which appear like leafy racemes. Berry large, pale green or purplish, scarcely 

 eatable. Deerberry. 



2. V. dumosum Curt. : minutely pubescent ; younger branches, leaves 

 and racemes sprinkled with resinous dots ; leaves obovate-oblong, mucro- 

 nate, entire, green on both sides ; racemes with large foliaceous bracts ; 

 pedicels short, axillary, subsdlitary; corolla campanulate. V. hirteUum 

 Ait. Gaylussacia hirteila Torr. (^ Gr. 



Wet sandy soils. N.J. to Flor. June. \i. — Stem 12 — 18.inches high. Flow- 

 ers large, white, nodding, in leafy racemes. Berry \a.rge, globose, black and 

 shining, tasteless. Low Swamp Whortleberry. 



3. V. frondosum Linn. : smooth ; leaves obovate-oblong, obtuse, very 

 entire, sprinkled with resinous dots, glaucous beneath; racemes lateral, 

 loose, bracteate ; pedicels filiform, bracteolate in the middle ; corolla glo- 

 bose-campanulate, V. glaucum Mich. Gaylussacia frondosa Torr. cf* Gr. 



Sandy woods. Can. to Geofc June. \i. — Stem 3 — 5 feet high, with slender 

 branches. Racemes lateral, wPflowered. Flowers small, white. Berry large, 

 bluish, sweet and well flavored. Whortleberry. Blue-tangle, 



•ff Corolla urceolale, ovoid, oblong or cylindric. 

 a. Flowers racemose or fasciculate. 



4. V. resinosum Ait. : younger branches pubescent ; leaves petiolate, ob- 

 long-oval, mostly obtuse, very entire, sprinkled with resinous dots beneath ; 

 racemes lateral, secund, bracteate ; corolla ovoid-conic, pentagonal, at first 

 contracted at the mouth, at length open. Gaylussacia resinosa Torr. (^ Gr. 



Woods and hills. Can. to Car. W. to Ohio. • May, June. l-i—Stam 2 — 4 

 feet high. Flowers reddish-green, in short lateral racemes or fascicles. Berry 

 globose, black, slightly acid', but agreeable. Blach Whortleberry. 



