GAYLUSSACIA URSINA (M. A. Curtis) T. & G.
Uaccinium ursinzinz M. A. Curtis, Am. Journ. Sci. 44 : 82. 1843. Gaylussacia ursina T. & G.; A. Gray, Mem. Am. Acad. (II.) 3 : 49. 1846.
A straggling branching shrub, 6-15 dm. tall, with sparingly pubescent twigs and young foliage. Leaves thin, the blades ob long, elliptic or oblanceolate, usually rhomboidal, 4-10cm. long, usually short-acuminate; apiculate, ciliate, deep green above, paler beneath, pubescent on the nerves on both sides, obtuse or rounded at the base, short-petioled ; flowers few, in lateral somewhat droop ing racemes ; calyx with numerous golden glands, about 3 mm.
broad, its 5 segments very low, obtuse, several times shorter than the tube ; corolla globose-campanulate, greenish-white or tawny red, about 4-5 mm. long, its segments triangular, acutish, recurved, revolute; filaments dilated, pubescent, incurved at the apex, longer than the anthers which have short tubes at the apex ; drupe' glo bose, 10-12 mm. in diameter, black, shining, sweet.
In deep forests on the mountains, North Carolina to northern Georgia. Spring ; matures its fruit in the late summer.