CHAP. LXIX. 



.ElilCA'CEiE. FACCI'NIUM. 



1165 



Stems ascending, a span high. Young branches 

 terete, downy. Leaves like those of box, but 

 darker. Flowers pale pink, 4-cleft, octandrous. 

 Anthers without spurs. Berries blood-red, acid, 

 austere, and bitter; less palatable than either the 

 cranberry or bilberry. (Don's Mill., iii. p. 855.) It 

 is a native of dry, barren, stony woods and heaths, 

 in the north or Europe ; plentiful in Scotland, 

 Westmoreland, Derbyshire, and Wales. Mr. Pursh 

 says it occurs on rocks near the sea coast, from Ca- 

 nada to New England ; but the American plant is 

 more robust than the European, with considerably 

 larger leaves. Pallas states that it is found in the 

 whole of Russia, and throughout Siberia, more es- 

 pecially in pine woods. It grows, in elevated ex- 

 posed situations, to the height of 5 in. or 6 in.; but, in sheltered places 

 in sandy peat soil, it attains the height of 1 ft., producing its pale flesh- 

 coloured flowers in May and June, and ripening its fruit from August to 

 October, according to the season. The berries are scarcely to be eaten 

 raw : but they are made into pies in Derbyshire; and, in Sweden, a rob, or 

 jelly, is made from them, which is eaten with all kinds of roast meat, and is 

 considered preferable to red currant jelly as a sauce for venison. In Sweden, 

 this preserve is also considered an excellent medicine in colds, sore throats, 

 and all irritations of the mouth or fauces. In Siberia, the berries are mace- 

 rated, during the autumn and part of the winter, in water ; and afterwards 

 they are eaten in a raw state, and fermented along with barley or rye, and 

 a spirit distilled from them; or with honey, and a wine produced. Sweet- 

 meats are also made of them with honey or sugar, which, in 1814, we 

 found in frequent use in Moscow, at balls and masquerades. In Sweden 

 and Norway, the plant is said to be used in gardens for edgings, as box is 

 in Central Europe ; and, in British gardens, it is sometimes so applied to 

 American beds and borders, and in other cases where the soil is peat. 

 From its smooth shining foliage, and the beauty of its flowers and fruit, 

 the latter being retained on the plant for several months, it forms a more 

 beautiful and varied edging than box, provided clipping can be dispensed 

 with. The berries of this plant form an important article of commerce 

 in the sea ports bordering the Gulf of Bothnia, whence they are sent to 

 the south of Europe along with cranberries. 



n. 25. V. (F.) £uxifo x liuih Salisb. The Box-leaved Whortleberry. 



Identification. Salisb. Par., t. 4. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 856. ; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. 



Synonyme. V. brachycerum Michx. Ft. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 234. 



Engravings. Curt. Bot. Mag., t. 928. ; Lodd. Bot Cab., t. 648. ; and our figs. 988, 989. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Racemes axillary, of few flowers. Leaves petiolate, obovate, 



toothed, or crenated, smooth on both surfaces. Stems tufted. Corollas 



roundish-ovate. Filaments glandular. Stigma 



capitate. Flowers white, delicately striped with 



red. (Don's Mill., iii. p. 856.) A handsome little 



shrub, in stature and general aspect resembling V. 



Fitis idae x a. The leaves are, however, smooth, 



even, and not dotted on the under side. Corollas 



globular, contracted at the mouth, not bell-shaped. 



Stamens 10. An- 

 thers spurless at 

 the base, discharg- 

 ing their pollen by 

 lateral, not termi- 

 H? nal, apertures. It 

 is a native of the 

 9i ^ western parts of 



