CHAPTER IX. 



CRANBERRY -YAcciximi. 



Ekicace^, or Heath Family. 



[Vacdnium Oxycoccus, an ancient Latin name of obscure derivation. French 

 name is Uirdle; German, Heiddbeere, ; and ;Mooreberrie. The Sub-family name, 

 Oxycocciis, is derived fromoccz^^, sharp or acid, and kokkus, a berry, in reference to 

 the acid taste of the berries. The name Cranberry is supposed by some authors 

 to have been given it because the fruit stem is crooked lil^c a crane's-bill, while 

 others state that it was because cranes were fond of the fruit.] 



GENERAL CIIAKACTERS. " 



Low, trailing, eyergrcen shrubs, with very slender 

 Dranclies ; fruit-bearing stems erect ; flower bell-sbaped, 

 white, or tinged with red ; berry usually four to five-cell- 

 ed ; seeds numerous. 



SPECIES. 



Taccinium Oxycoccus, — Small Cranberry. — Leaves 



ovate, acute, with revolute margins; stems very slender; 

 berries very small, spotted when young, becoming red at 

 maturity. Grows in peat bogs in nearly all of the North- 

 ern States, also in Northern Europe. 



V. macroearpoili — Common American Cranberry. — 

 Leaves oblong, obtuse, glaucous underneath, with slightly 

 revolute margins. Flower-stems erect ; fruit p^le pinkish- 

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