S70 12. VACCINIUM OXYCOCCOS. [CL. VIII. 



Carinthia and Transylvania seem to be its farthest southern 

 limits. 



CHAP. VIII. 

 13. 



Vaccinium oxycoccos, L. 



Moosbeere, Sumpf beere. In Pomerania, Kramsbeeren. — Fren. 

 Coussinet, Canneherge. — Engl. Cranberry. — Swed. Tran- 

 bar. 



In our marshes and moors, where much Sphagnum grows, 

 this plant is found on the rising plots which have been formed 

 by shrubs. The feeble stems, frequently a foot in length, 

 are completely level with the ground, send out here and there 

 fine fibrous roots into the moss, and push forth sparse, bent 

 twigs, which also lie low, but at the points where the flowers 

 spring, are somewhat raised. The leaves stand alternate on 

 short stalks, are evergreen, ovate, quite entire, having the 

 margin somewhat reflex; on the upper surface they are 

 splendent, and of a dark green ; on the lower surface greyish, 

 from nearly three to four lines long, and two lines broad» 

 On the points of the shoots appear the flower-stalks, an inch 

 long, reddish, even, set with small red bracteae : on the end 

 of the stalk rises the calyx above the germen ; it consists of 

 four obtuse, ciliated lobes. The corolla consists of four Ian-, 

 ceolate, red, curved petals. The eight filaments are flatly com- 

 pressed and hairy. The anthers are deeply cleft, of a brown 

 colour, and pour out their pollen from the pores of the two 

 white points. The pistil is simple, and projects above the 

 anthers. The nectary is the surface of the germen, and is 

 completely protected by the filaments which stand together, 

 and are hairy ; as also by the hanging position of the flower. 



