CHAP. LXIX. 



TACCINIUM, 



1161 



976 



977 



974 



the mouth. Stamens 10, downy. Anthers enclosed, having a double 

 pouch at the base, but no spurs. Berries black, insipid. This species has 

 a number of varieties, in size, shape, and colour of the 

 leaves, flowers, and fruit. It is a native of North 

 America, from Canada to Carolina and Georgia, in 

 swamps and wet woods, where it grows from 4 ft. to 

 7 ft. high, and flowers in May and June. It was intro- 

 duced in 1765, and is frequent in collections. In the 

 Due d'Aremberg's garden at Enghien, it is cultivated 

 in the peat border, for its fruit, which is used like 

 that of the cranberry. (NeUFs Hort. Tour, p. 322.) 



Varieties. 



it V. c. 2 virgafam Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2., vol. 2. p. 358., Don's 



Mill., 3. p. 854. ; and our Jig. 976 The flowers are white, tinged 



with crimson or pale red ; very elegant, and smaller than the 



species. Racemes short, lateral and terminal. A shrub, a 



native of Virginia and Carolina, in swamps, where it grows 



2ft. high. 

 St V. c.3 fuscatum Ait. Hort. Kew., i. c., Pursh, Hooker ; V. for- 



mbsum Andr. But. Rep., t. 97., Bot. Reg., t. 302. ; V. virgatum 



Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 33., but not of Ait. ; and our Jig. 977. ; has 



the flowers striped with red and white, and the calyx downy. 



It is a native of Lower Carolina and Georgia, in swamps. 

 & V. c. 4 august/folium, V. virgatum var. angustifblium Wats. Dcnd. 



Brit., t. 34., has the leaves narrow, lanceolate, and acuminated 



at both ends, sessile, besprinkled with brown, minute, pedicel- 

 late glands beneath, and hairy on the midrib above. Flowers 



almost white. This variety, like the preceding ones of V. corym- 



b6sum, is very handsome, and very distinct ; and, in British 



gardens, of easy culture, in sandy peat soil, which, however, 



as in all similar cases, must be kept cool, and of an equable degree of moisture. 



a 13. V. ALBIFLO'RUM Hook. The white-flowered Whortleberry. 



Identification. Hook, in Bot. Mag., 3428. ; Gard. Mag., vol. 11. p. 475. 

 Synonyme. V. album Lam. ? 

 Engraving. Curt. Bot. Mag., t 3428. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves oval-lanceolate, obscurely serrulate, membranous, 

 pilose beneath, with spreading hairs, especially on the midrib and primary 

 veins. Flower-bearing branches leafless. Racemes a little corymbose, 

 directed to one side, drooping, bracteated with shortly deciduous bracteas. 

 Calyx spreading, with a tendency to be reflexed. Corolla broadly oval. 

 Ovary wholly inferior. (Hooker in Bot. Mag., t. 3428.) The affinity of 

 " this very pretty species is undoubtedly with V. corymbosum of Linnaeus 

 and American authors ; " but the half-superior ovary of V. corymbosum, 

 and the wholly inferior one of V. albiflorum, and other points of difference 

 implied in those noticed in the specific character above, have induced Dr. 

 Hooker " to think that the two are permanently distinct." V. albiflorum 

 has been received at the Glasgow Botanic Garden, from North America, 

 and it flowers in May. It is " a small shrub, with spreading branches." 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 3428.) 



