Fig. 62.—American Whortle-berry (Vaccinium pennsylvanicum).
There are many species, among which may be mentioned the American Bluets (V. angustifolium); Deerberries (V. stamineum); Bluetangles (V. frondosum); the Hungarian Whortle-berry
Fig. 63.—Cranberry. (V. Arctostaphylos); and the Cow-berry, or common British Whortle-berry (V. Vitis-Idæa).
The Cranberry (Oxycoccus palustris) differs from the genus Vaccinium in the shape of its flowers (see fig. 63), and in its anthers being without spurs; there are eight stamens, the filaments of which are connivent, that is, growing close together. The American Cranberry (O. macrocarpus) differs from the European kind, principally in having larger fruit.
TRIBE IV.—PYROLEÆ.
This tribe is also considered as a separate order by many botanists; but the principal distinction is the long arillus or skin which enfolds the seeds and gives them the appearance of being winged. The most remarkable genera are Pyrola, the Winter Green, of which there are several species common in moist woods in the north of England and Scotland; and Monotropa, or Bird’s-nest, parasitic plants which grow on the roots of pine and beech-trees, but are by no means common in England. The species of Pyrola are pretty little evergreen plants, with white flowers, the corollas consisting of five distinct petals, and which have ten stamens, the anthers of which are two-celled, each opening by a pore; the style is single, ending in a capitate stigma cut into five lobes; and the capsule is five-celled. The yellow Bird’s-nest, (Monotropa Hypopitys) has a coloured stem, with drooping flowers, and numerous scales instead of leaves, of which it is destitute. The flowers have a coloured calyx cut into four or five segments, and the corolla is in four or five petals. There is an American species with white flowers.