390 VACCINIACEJE. 



ovary with a flat disk, 4 10-celled ; cells 1- or many- 

 seeded ; style and stigma simple ; fruit a berry crowned 

 by the remains of the calyx, juicy, containing many 

 small seeds. Small shrubby plants, with undivided, 

 alternate leaves, inhabiting temperate regions, especially 

 mountainous and marshy districts. By some botanists 

 they are placed in the same order with the Heaths, from 

 which they differ chiefly in having the ovary beneath 

 the calyx. The leaves and bark are astringent, the 

 berries slightly acrid and agreeable to the taste. Under 

 the name of Cranberries they are imported largely from 

 North America, and are used for making tarts. Many 

 species are cultivated in gardens; more, however, for 

 their pretty flowers than for the sake of their fruit. 



1. VACCINIUM (Whortleberry, Cranberry, &c.). Calyx 

 4 5 lobed, sometimes with the lobes so shallow as to 

 be scarcely perceptible ; corolla bell-shaped, or wheel- 

 shaped, 4 5 cleft ; stamens 8 10 ; berry globose, 4 5 

 celled, many seeded. (Name of doubtful etymology.) 



1. VACCINIUM (Whortleberry, Cranberry, &c.). 



* Leaves not evergreen ; anthers with two bristles at the 

 back. 



1. V. Myrtillus (Whortleberry, Bilberry, Whinberry). 

 Stem acutely angular ; leaves egg-shaped, serrated ; 



flowers solitary, drooping. Heathy and mountainous 

 places ; abundant. A small branched shrub, 6 18 

 inches high, with nearly globular, flesh-coloured, wax-like 

 flowers, and black berries, which are covered with grey 

 bloom. They are agreeable to the taste, and are often 

 made into tarts ; but when thus used are rather mawkish 

 unless mixed with some more acid fruit. In the west 

 of England they are popularly known by the name of 

 whorts. Fl. May. Shrub. 



2. V. uliginosum (Bog Whortleberry, or Great Bil- 

 berry). Stem not angular ; leaves inversely egg-shaped, 

 entire, glaucous and veined beneath. Mountainous bogs 



