36 



recurved pedicels, corolla globose-ovoid; berry large (^J-}4 

 inch) bluish-purple, with bloom. (Figured: Hook. Fl. Bor, 

 Am. 2:33, 1.127) Woods, Quebec to Michigan, Oregon and 

 Alaska. 



This species is very abundant in the northwest, forming a 

 large part of the undergrowth along the southern coast of 

 Alaska, (Funston) ; but, like many other plants of a similar 

 range it extends eastward through the region of the Great Lakes 

 and the St. Lawrence River. The berries, rather larger than 

 peas, are .collected in great quantities by the Indians who use them 

 fresh and dry them for winter. The exceptionally large berries 

 and vigorous habit of this species suggest its value for cultiva- 

 tion and particularly for crossing with the low growing species 

 such as Pennsylvanicum and Canadense. 



V* virgatum, Ait. 

 Aiton, Hort. Kew, ed. I, 2: 12, 1789. 



(Synonyms: V . ligustrinum, Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept., 1 : 288 r 

 not L.; V. fuscatum Ker., Bot. Reg. 1.302 ( ?) ; V. Hlliottii, 

 Chapm., Fl. So. U. S. 260.) 



A shrub 3-12 feet high, with slender, green branches, the 

 young twigs puberulent; leaves narrowly oval-oblong, acute r 

 often mucronate, entire or minutely serrulate, green and glab- 

 rous above, pale or glaucous beneath, J^-2 inches long ; flowers in 

 short racemes on naked twigs; appearing before the leaves; 

 bracts small, deciduous ; corolla nearly cylindrical, white or pink ; 

 berry black with or without bloom. (Figured: Bot. Rep. t.iSi ; 

 Bot. Mag. 1.3522; (as V. fuscatum) Bot. Reg. 1.302.) Swamps, 

 southern Virginia to Florida and Louisiana. 



Var. tenellum (Ait.) Gray, (Syn. Fl. 2:22). A low form, 

 mostly less than 2 feet, with smaller leaves and nearly white 

 flowers in short close clusters. (V. tenellum, Ait. 1. c., not 

 Pursh ; V. gale sans Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1 : 232 ; V. galiformis, 

 Smith, Rees' Cycl. no. 16) Southern Virginia to Arkansas, 

 Florida and Alabama. Probably a distinct species. 



The distinction between this species and the next is very slight. 

 It is probable that, possibly excepting var. tenellum, this is only 

 a southern form of corymbosum and should be reduced to 

 varietal rank, following Don (Gard. Diet. 3: 854). 



