VACCINIUM 629 



pointed, finely toothed, dark green and downy on the midrib above, paler 

 and downy at the base of the midrib below; stalk T V m - l n &- Flowers 

 produced in June in racemes i to 2 ins. long, from the wood of the previous 

 year, each flower drooping and jointed at the base of the ovary to a short 

 stalk springing from the axil of a bract about -|- in. long. Corolla bell-shaped, 

 ^ in. long, dull yellow tinged with purple, the five lobes triangular; stamens 

 ten, glabrous. Berries blue, globose, | to in. across. 



Native of the mountains of Madeira at altitudes of 3000 to 5000 ft.; 

 introduced to Kew by Masson on his return in 1777 from his famous 

 collecting expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. What is believed to be 

 one of his plants is still growing in the Botanic Garden at Kew. But whilst 

 it may thus be considered hardy, it thrives better where the climate is 

 warmer in such a garden, for instance, as that of Abbotsbury, near 

 Weymouth. There has been much confusion between this species and the 

 Caucasian V. Arctostaphylos, but seen together they are quite distinct. 

 The latter has larger leaves, is of more open growth, and the stamens are 

 hairy. 



V. PARVIFOLIUM, Smith. 



A deciduous shrub, varying in height from I to 6 ft.; the steins and twigs 

 slender, sharply angled (like V. Myrtillus) when young, smooth. Leaves 

 oval, obovate, or nearly round, thin, J to \ in. long, not toothed. Flowers 

 solitary in the leaf-axils, nodding; corolla globular, pinkish white. Berry 

 bright red, acid but very palatable, J in. across. 



Native of Western N. America from California to Alaska and the 

 Aleutian Islands. It is but little known in gardens, and so far as I have 

 seen its chief value as an ornament is in the beautiful red its leaves turn in 

 autumn before they fall. 



V. PENNSYLVANICUM, Lamarck. Low BLUEBERRY. 



A low, deciduous shrub, usually under 2 ft. high; young shoots warted 

 and more or less downy. Leaves nearly stalkless, lance-shaped to narrowly 

 oval or oblong; f to \\ ins. long, \ to ^ in. wide; minutely toothed, pointed, 

 smooth and bright green, the midrib downy on one or both sides. Flowers 

 produced in April and May in short dense clusters. Corolla white tinged with 

 red, cylindric to bell-shaped, in. or rather more long. Berries round, to 

 $ in. wide, normally black, covered with a blue bloom, but variable in colour, 

 being in some forms red, and in one (var. LEUCOCARPUM, Gray} white ; very 

 sweet. 



Native of the eastern United States and Canada; introduced in 1772. 

 The berry has a pleasant flavour, and is one of the most valuable wild fruits 

 of N. America, ripening earlier than those of any other species. It covers 

 large areas of poor sandy soil. In this country it has little or no value as 

 a fruit-bearer, but makes a pleasing low cover on peaty or light sandy 

 soils. 



Var. ANGUSTIFOLIUM, A. Gray, is a dwarf mountain form, with lanceolate 

 leaves not exceeding in. in width. 



V. STAMINEUM, LinnCEUS. DEERBERRY. 



A deciduous shrub, 2 to 4 ft. high, of bushy, much-branched habit; twigs 

 downy. Leaves oval or ovate, f to 2^ ins. long, about half as wide; pointed; 

 dark dull green above, and downy "on the midrib, paler or more or less 



