394 PDIBLE WILD PLANTS 



12, Gaultheria procumhens L. Creeping Wintergreen, Check- 



erberry, locally "Tea-berry," "Deer-berry," 

 " Partridge-berry." 



Stalks 2 in. bo 4 in. high, connected beneath the surface. 

 Leaves in a crown of 2 to 4, smooth and dark green, ovate, 

 slightly pointed and minutely notched, f in. to 1:^ in. long, edges 

 curved, hard, thick, light green below, strongly aromatic odor 

 and taste, containing a volatile oil known as wintergreen, used 

 as a flavor or perfume. Flowers small pinkish- white and cup- 

 shaped, in bunch of 2 to 3 beneath leaves, which are nearly 

 edible. The juice of the chewed leaves is very invigorating. 

 Berries bright red, round, end indented and containing dark- 

 colored bristle in centre, vq in. to ro in. thick, pulp dry and spicy. 

 Does not complete its growth in one season, remains on stalk 

 over winter, and increases in size and ripeness next spring. 



Dry barrens, open or burnt woods, and old pastures. Widely 

 distributed and abundant, available at all times except July to 

 September. 



13. Prunus Pennsylvanica L. Wild Red Cherry, Bird Cherry. 



Small tree 7 ft. to 20 ft. high, with many straight thin bran- 

 ches. Bark smooth, light reddish-browai; outside thin and paper- 

 like, but tearing easily in strips around the trunk, inside green 

 and intensely bitter. Leaves very oblong and sharply pointed, 

 notched, thin, shining light green and smooth on both sides, on 

 leaf stalks 1 in. long. Berries not in a long cluster, round, A in. 

 to A in. thick, smooth skinned, red, juic}- , very sour, somewhat 

 clustered, but on fruit stalks 1 in. to Ih in. long ; contains a single 

 round hard seed with bitter kernel, which is more or less unsafe 

 to eat. Ripens in July. 



On the driest and rockiest soil, on barrens and burnt or open 

 woods, never in swamps. Widely distributed, and often 

 extremely plentiful. Much eaten by birds. 



