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P L A T E XCVII.
V A C C I N I U M FORMOSUM.
lied-t'ivigged Whortle-herry.
C L A S S VIII. ORDER L
OCTANDRI^ MONOGYNIA. Eight Chives. One Pointal.
E S S E N T I A L GENERIC CHARACTEK.
CALYX fupenis. Corolk monopetala. Filamenta
receptáculo inferta. Bacca quadrilocularis,
polyfperraa.
S P E C I F I C
Vacciniumracemispedicellifquebraaeatis; foliis
integerrimis, oblongis, acutis, glabris; calyclbus
adpreffis; corollis fub-cylindraceis,
coftatls; ftigma fub-exferta; ftamina decern.
CUP fuperior. Bloffora of one petal. Threads
fixed to the receptacle. A berry with four
cells, and many feeds.
S e e V o l . I . P I . X X X . VA C C I N I UM AKCTOSTAPHYLLUS.
C H A R A C T E R .
Whortle-berry with floral leaves on the branch
part of the bunch, as well as on the partial
foot-ftalks; leaves quite in tire, oblong,
pointed, and fmooth; cups prefled to the
bloflbm; blolfoms nearly cylindrical, and
ribbed; fummit juft without the bloflbm;
ten chives.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
1. The Bloffom and Cup.
2. The Chives and Pointal, magnified.
3. The Seed-bud a little advanced, with the Cup upon it.
4. A nearly ripe Berry, cut tranfverfely, magnified.
FKOM the number of different new and old known Ipecies, of this genus, which we have been enabled
to examine this fpring; and of which drawings have been made, (a figure from one of them being
intended to be given in each fucceffive No. till they are finiflied;) we are more fully confirmed, in
what was aflerted in a former part of the work, that V. Arfloftaphyllus, with the greater part of thofe
plants, now known as Vacciniums, fliould be placed in Decandria. It is true, a certain latitude has
been given by Linnaeus, in an obfervation on the genus, by allowing, that a fourth in addition to the
uiual number is frequently found, in the different parts of the flower. But when fo effential a part of
the frudification is, with a very few exceptions, conftant through a numerous genus, we cannot but
think, in a fyftem, founded chiefly on that bafis, that in fuch cafe, the mere charadter of the fruit fliould
give way to firft principles; and that thofe with ten chives Ihould be placed to Andromeda. Or, if the
diftiniftion of a diy, from a moift capfule, fliould be thought of fufficient weight, on which to form a
new genus, thofe fpecies, with ten chives, and berries, might be fo arranged. Indeed, the difference
in the general habit, of thofe with ten, from thofe with eight chives, would well warrant fuch an
alteration. But fuch a change we have declined making, upon the grounds we have, and are determined
topnrfue; not to alter any eflabliflied name, if even a little erroneous; but only to point out
the error, or the apparent neceffary alteration.
This fpecies of Whortle-berry was firft introduced, (according to the Kew Catalogue,) in 17/0, by
Mr. William Young, from N. America; and is confequently hardy enough to bear the feverity of our
common winters. It fliould be planted in fandy peat earth, on a dry, flieltered border. It is propagated
by layers, which fliould be put down in fpring, and taken off the fucceeding fummer. The leaves
of this fpecies are deciduous, when planted in the open ground; but, if kept in the greenhoufe, where
it will be found very ornamental, it becomes an evergreen. Our figure was made at the nurfery,
Hammerfroith, in May this year.
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