Vaccinium. ERICACE^. 445 



" Guimp. ahhild. holtz.p. 40. t. 34 ;" DC. prodr. 7. p. 572. V. virgatum, Ait. Kew. (ed. 1.) 

 2. p. 12. V. tenellum, Pursh, fl.\. p. 288 (not of Ait.) ; Bigel. jl. Bost. p. 150 ; Torr. 

 fl. 1. p. 417 ; Wats, dendr. Brit. t. 35. 



var. /3. ; leaves nearly dull ; the midrib hairy underneath ; serratures more conspicuously 

 serrulate-mucronate ; flowers larger and more campanulate. 



Stem 6-15 inches high ; the branchlets somewhat pubescent in lines. Leaves about an 

 inch long (often considerably smaller on high mountains), prominently and reticulately veined ; 

 the serratures evident to the naked eye, incurved and tipped with a short bristle. Racemes 

 few-flowered, short ; tlie bracts and bracteoles reddish, very deciduous. Calyx with con- 

 spicuous somewhat acuminate teeth. Corolla reddish white. Stamens as in the preceding 

 species. Style often a little exserted. Berries large, bluish black and covered with a glaucous 

 bloom, sweet and agreeably tasted. 



Dry sandy woods, hill-sides and high mountains ; the var. on hills about Fishkill. Fl. 

 Early in May. Fr. Middle of June - July. This is our earliest Huckleberry, and is brought 

 in large quantities to the New- York market, mixed with the berries of the preceding and other 

 species. 



4. Vaccinium corymbosum, Linn. Tall Swamp Huckleberry. 



Branches terete (brownish), smooth, very minutely verrucose , the flowering ones nearly 

 leafless ; leaves oval or somewhat obovate, rather acute at each end, perfectly entire, mostly 

 pubescent on the veins when young, at length nearly or quite smooth ; racemes clustered, 

 short and often corymbose ; corolla cylindraceous-ovoid. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 350 ; Fursh, fl. 1. 

 p. 286 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 498 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p 150 ; Torr.fl. 1. p. 416 ; Beck, hot. p. 224 ; 

 Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 256 ; DC. prodr. 7. p. 571. V. disomorphum, Michx. fl. 1. p. 231. 

 V. fuscatum, Ait. Kew. (ed. 1.) 2. p. 11 ; Pursh, I. c. ; DC. I. c. 



Stem 5-8 feet or more in height, sometimes nearly 2 inches in diameter at the base, with 

 irregular straggling branches ; the small twigs usually light purplish and slightly pubescent. 

 Leaves 1^-2 inches long, sometimes obovate and obtuse, distinctly mucronate, rather 

 coriaceous when old. Racemes approximated towards the extremity of the branches, 4 - 8- 

 flowered, sometimes slightly elongated ; the bracts and bracteoles very deciduous, and of a 

 reddish purple color : pedicels shorter than the flower. Calyx-segments broad, acute or 

 obtuse, spreading. Corolla about 5 lines long, white, only slightly contracted at the mouth. 

 Anther-cells with long tubular appendages, which are slit at the extremity, and somewhat open. 

 Style a little exserted. Berry nearly one-third of an inch in diameter, dark blue and covered 

 with a bloom, subacid and well flavored. 



Swamps and shady wet woods ; common. Fl. May. Fr. July - August. This is our 

 most esteemed Huckleberry. It is known by the name of Bilberry, or Blue Bilberry, in 

 some parts of the country. 



