CHAPTER IX. 



CRANBERRY. VACCINIUM. 



ERICACEAE, or Heath Family. 



[Vacctnium Oxycoccus, an ancient Latin name of obscure derivation. French 

 name is ffirette ; German, Heidelbeere ; and Mooreberrie. The Sub-family name, 

 Oxycoccw, is derived fromoms, sharp or acid, and kokkus, a berry, 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 crane's-bill, while 

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



GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



Low, trailing, evergreen shrubs, with very 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. 



V, macrocarpon. Common American Cranberry. 

 Leaves oblong, obtuse, glaucous underneath, with slightly 

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

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