CHAPTER IX. 



CRANBERRY. VAOCINIUM. 

 ERICACEAE, or Heath Family. 



[Vaedntum Oxy coccus, an ancient Latin name of obscure derivation. French 

 name is Hirette ; German, Heidefoeer* ; and Mooreberrie. The bub-family name, 

 Oxycoccus, is derived fromoanw, sharp or acid, and kokkits, a her /, in reference to 

 the acid taste of the berries. The name Cranberry is supposed by some authors 

 to have been given it because the fruit stem is crooked like a rane's-bill, while 

 others state that it was because cranes were fond of the fruit.] 



GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



Low, trailing, evergreen shrubs, with \ary slender 

 oranches; fruit-bearing stems erect; flower bell-shaped, 

 white, or tinged with red ; berry usually four to five-cell- 

 ed ; seeds numerous. 



SPECIES. 



Vaccinium Oxycoccus. Small Cranberry. Leaves 

 ovate, acute, with revolute margins ; stems very slender 

 berries very small, spotted when young, becoming red at 

 maturity. Grows in peat bogs in nearly all of the North- 

 ern States, also in Northern Europe. 



?. macrocarpon. Common American Cranberry. 

 Leaves oblong, obtuse, glaucous underneath, with slightly 

 revolute margins. Flower-stems erect ; fruit pale pinkish* 

 239 



