The Shrubs of North Carolina 7 



(B. vulgaris) is thoroughly naturalized in New England. Ours 

 is a pretty shrub, 2 to 4 feet high and somewhat prickly. The 

 fruit is an oblong, red and acid berry, which makes an agreeable 

 conserve, and a cooling drink in fevers. The leaves are also 

 slightly acid. It is probable that this, like the European species, 

 which it closely resembles, would furnish a yellow color by boil- 

 ing the roots in lye ; and that the inner bark of the stems would 

 dye linen of a fine yellow with the assistance of alum. 



GOOSEBERRIES AND CURRANTS.— These belong to one 

 genus, but are distinguished — the former, by the small sharp 

 thorns at the base of the leaves, sometimes the fruit being 

 prickly, and generally (always in the North Carolina species) 

 by the flower stems having from 1 to 3 flowers ; the latter, by the 

 absence of thorns, smaller fruit (never prickly), and the flowers 

 numerous in long clusters. They are found only in the moun- 

 tains. 



1. Prickly Gooseberry. (Ribes Cynosbati, Linn.) — Dis- 

 tinguished from the others by its prickly fruit, which is brownish 

 when ripe, and eatable. 



2. Smooth Gooseberry. (R. rotundifolium, Michx.) — This 

 is 3 to 4 feet high, the leaves 1 to 2 inches broad, about half the 

 size of the preceding, the fruit small, purple when ripe, and of 

 fine flavor. 



3. Slender Gooseberry. (R. gracile, Michx.) — Very similar 

 to No. 2, but every way more slender and delicate, and quite rare. 



4. Fetid Currant. (R. prostratum, L'Her.) — Occurring 

 chiefly upon rocks on our highest mountains and generally 

 spreading on the ground. The berry is covered with bristles and 

 is not pleasant flavored. The whole plant exhales a disagreeable 

 musky odor, which will readily distinguish it. 



5. Bristly Currant. (R. resinosum, Pursh.) — This was dis- 

 covered in our mountains by Fraser. I have not myself met with 

 it. It is covered in every part, not excepting the fruit, with 

 resinous glandular hairs, by which it may be recognized. 



HUCKLEBERRIES.— The fruit so called in this State is com- 

 prised in two genera; the first (Gaylussacia) including those 

 which have a black or blackish berry, and leaves generally cov- 

 ered with small glandular dots; the second (Vaccinium) includ- 

 ing those with a blue, red or greenish berry. The blue ones are 

 known in some States as Blueberries or Bilberries. The red are 

 Cranberries. The greenish one is in this State called Gooseberry 

 and Deerberry. 



1. Blue Huckleberry. (Gaylussacia frondosa, Torr. and 

 Gr.) — Common in the Lower and Middle Districts on the borders 



