30 



valuable. The only form it is likely to be confused with is 

 variety pallidum of corymbosum and from this it is distinguished 

 by the veins and ribs of its leaves being perfectly smooth. Well 

 worthy the attention of cultivators. 



V* Myrtillus, (Whortleberry, Bilberry) 

 Linnaeus, Sp. PI. 350, 1753. 



(Synonym: V. myrtilloides, Watson, Bot. King Exp. 209, not 

 of others.) 



Low shrubs, glabrous; leaves ovate or oval, serrate, con- 

 spicuously veined, y2-% inch long; calyx almost entire; berries 

 black, nodding. (Figured: Reichenb., Ic. Fl. Germ. 17: 118, 

 t.n69; Eng. Bot., ed. I, 7:456; Schlecht., Fl. von Deutch. 

 20:2036; Twin. 111. Nat. ord. 2:83.) Mountainous regions 

 Alaska to Colorado and Utah ; Europe, Asia. 



The most widely distributed species and very generally used as 

 an article of diet and in the making of drinks, particularly in the 

 old world. It is from this species that the common name whor- 

 tleberry is derived, as stated elsewhere. Not of special import- 

 ance in America. 



V. caespitosum, Michx., (Dwarf Bilberry) 

 Michaux, FL Bor. Am. i : 234, 1803. 



A very dwarf tufted shrub, 2-12 inches high; nearly glabrous 

 throughout ; leaves obovate, obtuse or acutish, serrulate, shining 

 on both sides ; flowers solitary, corolla obovoid, pink or white, 

 slightly 5-toothed (rarely 4-toothed) ; berries large, globose, blue 

 with bloom, sweet. (Figured: Bot. Mag. t.3429.) Hudson's 

 Bay and Labrador to Maine and New Hampshire, also alpine 

 summits of Adirondacks ; in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado and 

 Utah to Alaska, east to Lake Superior. 



It is doubtful if varieties can be distinguished. Var. arbus- 

 cula, Gray, passes into the ordinary form ; while angustifolium, 

 Gray, and cuneifolium, Nutt., are found to be simply forms pro- 

 duced by shade. The latter form, particularly, is common in 

 New England and early in the season the leaves are of the ordi- 

 nary obovate type, while later they become elongated. 



