y z [ 4 5 6 ]
V A C C I N I U M Myrtillus.
Bilberry or Bleaberry.
0 C T A N D R. I A Monogynia•
( S e n . Char. Cor. o f 1 petal. Filaments arifing from
the receptacle. Berry inferior, with 4 cells and
many feeds.
Spec, Char. Flower-italics finale—flowered. Leaves
deciduous, ferrated, ovate. Stem angular.
Syn. Vaccinium Myrtillus. Linn. Sp. PI. 498. Hudf.
163. With. 370. Sibth. 123.
Vitis Idtea angulofa, Raii Syn. 45 7.
G r OWS exceeding copioufly on heaths and ftony moors in
the mountainous parts of Great Britain. Porland heath, the
higheft fpot in Norfolk, is we believe the only place it inhabits
in that county. About May the young freih-green leaves, and
wax-like red flowers, make an elegant appearance. Towards
autumn the leaves grow darker and more firm, and the ripe
dark-blue berries are gathered in the north for tarts, and in
Devonfhire are eaten with the clotted cream prepared in the
manner of that country.
Root perennial, woody. Stem fhrubby, ereâr, forming fmall
tufted bullies, branched, fmooth, fharply angular, efpecially
the young green branches. Leaves alternate, on ihort foot-
ftalks, ovate, ferrated, fmooth, veiny. Flowers drooping, on
ihort round fimple ftalks, inodorous, the calyx and corolla each
with 5 teeth, and the ftamina alfo generally 105 the numbers
4 or 5 in the two former and 8 or 10 in the latter, being indifferent
in this natural order as to the determination of
genera or fpecies. ^ The antherae are cloven, difcharging their
pollen by a pore in each point, and are befides accompanied
by two bridles or horns, as in many Erica, Style and digma
fimple. _ Berry roundifh, with a dimple at the top, of 5 cells
before it ripens, but when arrived at maturity the numerous
feeds are imbedded in one continued foft acid pulp.