VACCFNIUM AMCE'NUM. 
BROAD-LEAVED WHORTLEBERRY. 
Class. Order. 
DECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ERICE M. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Introduced 
N. America. 
2| feet. 
May, June. 
Perennial. 
in 1765. 
No 211. 
The word Vaccinium is an ancient Latin name of 
different significations, and some have thought that 
its meaning is the same as though it where baccinium, 
relating to baccce, or berries. Amcenum, from the 
Latin, pleasant. The old English term whort, sig- 
nifies herb ; and it is probable that Whortberry or 
Wortleberry, had reference to berries which grew 
on low or herb-like plants. 
Sir Joseph Banks excited considerable interest, a 
few years ago, by his successful cultivation of the 
Vaccinium macrocarpon, (now Oxycoccus macro- 
carpus) or American Cranberry ; the imported fruit 
of which has been long known in England, and is 
esteemed wholesome and pleasant. As the proper 
culture of it is not difficult, as was formerly con- 
ceived, we shall hereafter notice this plant. 
The Vaccinium amcenum forms an undershrub; 
and probably its berries may prove a desirable ad- 
dition to our esculent fruits, as well as those to which 
we have alluded. 
It delights in a cool shady situation, and a light 
friable soil, composed of loam and peat, or loam and 
decayed leaves. Propagate by layers. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 2, 358. 
