ERICACEAE (HEATH FAMILY) 



beneath ; berries black, usually without bloom. (V. nigrum Britton.) Often 

 associated with the species, or by itself, N. B. to N. J., Pa., and Mich. 



8. V. canadense Kalm. ( SOUR-TOP or VELVET-LEAF B.) Low (2-6 dm. 

 high) ; leases oblong-lanceolate or elliptical, entire, downy both sides, as well 

 as the crowded branchlets, in maturity 2-4 cm. long, 5-15 mm. broad ; corolla 

 shorter (4-6 mm. long) ; berries blue with much bloom (rarely black), ripening 

 later than those of no. 7. Dry plains, swamps or moist woods, Lab. to Man., 

 s. to N. E., 111., Minn., and along the mts. to Va. Forma CHIOCOCCUM Deane 

 is a rare form with white fruit. 



9. V. vacillans Kalm. (LATE Low B.) Low (3-9 dm. high), glabrous, 

 with yellowish-green branchlets ; leaves obovate or oval, in maturity 2.5-4.5 cm. 

 long, 1.5-2.5 cm. broad, very pale or dull, glaucous, at least underneath, entire 

 or minutely ciliolate-serrulate ; calyx usually reddish ; corolla 5-8 mm. long, 

 greenish-yellow, often tinged with red ; berries blue, with a bloom, ripening later 

 than those of no. 7. Dry places, especially in sandy soil, N. E. to Mich., and 

 southw. 



** + Shrubs 1-4 m. high. 



10. V. corymbdsum L. (HIGH or SWAMP B.) Tall (1-4 m.) ; leaves ovate to 

 elliptic-lanceolate, smooth or slightly pubescent beneath, half-grown atflmcering 

 time, in maturity 4-8 cm. long, 2-4 cm. broad, the margins entire ; calyx 

 usually glaucous, the lobes acutish or blunt ; corolla white or pinkish, 6-10 mm. 

 long, varying from ovoid to cylindric-urn-shaped ; berries blue-black, with a 

 bloom, 7-10 mm. in diameter. Swamps, low woods, or even dry pastures, Me. 

 to Minn., and southw. ; chiefly eastw. 



Var. amoenum (Ait.) Gray. Similar ; leaves bright green both sides, ciliate- 

 serrulate or bristly -ciliate. Similar range, less abundant. 



Var. pallidum (Ait.) Gray. Glaucous; leaves ciliate-serrulate, whitened 

 beneath. ( V. pallidum AiL) Throughout the range. 



11. V. atrococcum (Gray) Heller. (BLACK HIGH B.) Resembling the 

 preceding ; leaves entire, downy or woolly underneath even when old, unex- 

 panded at flowering time ; calyx not glaucous, the lobes obtuse or rounded ; 

 corolla turgid-ovoid to ellipsoid, yellowish- or greenish-white, tinged with red, 

 5-8 mm. long; berries polished black, without bloom, 5-8 mm. in diameter. 

 (V. corymbosum, var. Gray.) Swamps, low woods and barrens, s. Me. to N. C. 

 and Ont. Flowering and fruiting a week or ten days earlier than no. 10, with 

 which it is often associated. 



3. EUVACClXIUM Gray. (BILBERRIES.) Corolla ellipsoid to globular, 

 4-o-toothed; Jilaments glabrous; anthers 2-aiened on the back, included; 

 berry -5-celled; leaves deciduous; flowers on drooping pedicels, solitary 

 or few together, appearing with or after the leave*; mostly glabrous. 

 * Parts of the flower mostly in fours; stamens 8. 



12. V. uliginbsum L. (Boo BILBERRY.) Low and spreading stout shrub 

 2-60 cm. high ; leaves entire, dull, obovate or oblong, in maturity 6-20 mm. 

 long, 3-15 mm. wide, pale and slightly pubescent underneath ; flowers single or 

 2-3 together" from a scaly bud, almost sessile ; corolla short, urn-shaped ; 

 berries black, with a bloom, sweet Arctic Am., s. to the barrens of Washington 

 Co., Me., mts. of n. N. E. and n. N. T., and n. Mich. 



* * Parts oftheflotcer in fives; stamens 10; leaves membranaceous ; flower* 

 solitary on short axillary peduncles, nodding. 



13. V. caespitosum Michx. (DWARF BILBERRY.) Dwarf tufted slender 

 shrub (5-30 cm. high), with rounded branches ; leaves obovate, cuneate-lanceo- 

 late or cuneate-spatulate, narrowed at base, smooth and shining, serrate, in 

 maturity 1-4 cm. long, 4-20 mm. broad ; corolla ellipsoid, slightly urn-shaped, 

 usually pink or coral-red: berries blue, sweet. Gravelly or rocky woods and 

 shores, Lab. to Alaska, s. to s. Me., s, Vt., n. Mich., n. Wise., Col., and Cal. ; 

 alpine summits, N. E. and X. Y. 



14. V. membranaceum Dougl. More erect, 3-15 dm. high ; branchlets some- 

 what angled; leaves mostly ovate and acute or pointed, in maturity 2-7 cm. long, 



