HUCKLEBERRY, Vaccinium, a genus of small shrubs, of the natural order waccini accce, having a 4- to 5-toothed calyx; a 4- to 5-cleft bell-shaped or ureeolate corolla, with the limb bent back; 8 or 10 stamens, with two-horned anthers; and a 4- to 5-celled many seeded berry. The species are numerous, mostly natives of the northern parts of the world, with evergreen or deciduous, more or less ovate leaves. The COMMON HUCKLE BERRY or BILBERRY (V. myrtillua), called inScotl and the blacberry, is very common in Britain, and in the middle and north of Europe. It is found also in Iceland and in the northern regions of North Ameriest. It delights in dry situations, but is often found in woods, and often on very elevated mountains. It varies from a few inches to almost two feet in height, and has ovate deciduous leaves and dark purple berries. A variety occurs, but rarely, With .White berries, Tho berries are very sweet and agreeable, and are much used for making jelly. A kind of spirituous liquor is alio made from them in Germany. The Boo HUCKLEBERRY, or GREAT BILBERRY (V. vliginosum), is common in the northern parts of Britain and in the n. of Europe and Asia. It is said to cover extensive tracts in Greenland. It grows in marshy situations, and is it taller plant than the common huckleberry.. It has deciduous, obovate, entire leaves, and a fruit larger than the common huckleberry and inferior to it in flavor. The fruit is said to cause giddiness when eaten in large quantity. An intoxicating liquor is made from it in Sweden and in Siberia. The only other British species is the BED HUCKLEBERRY Ditis idea), which is often called cranberry, because of the similarity of its acid fruit to the cranberry (q.v.). It is a native of the n. of Europe, Asia, and America, and is plentiful in some parts of Britain. Its fruit is much esteemed for preserves, and is
used in the same way as the cranberry. Large quantities are sent to the s. of Europe from the shores of the gulf °f Bothnia. The plant is a pretty dwarf shrub, with obovate evergreen leaves and racemes of flowers. V. buzifolium is regarded as a mere American variety of it.—Many species of 'eacetnium are in occasional cultivation as ornamental shrubs, and the fruit of most of them is agreeable, although in general it wants acidity. Their more general cultivation has perhaps been prevented by the preva lent notion that they require a peat soil, but they succeed on other soils also. Most of them are North American, and the fruit of some of them is often brought to market in North American towns. The 'BLACK HUCKLEBERRY (V. angustifolium or gaylus sacia angustifolia) is a shrub about 2 ft. high, much branched and erect, with deciduous oval leaves. The berries are of a shining black color, and sweet. It is widely dif fused from Canada to Georgia. The BLUE frondosum or ga,ylussacia frondava)is a rather larger and more spreading shrub, which grows near lakes and springs. The fruit is slightly acid. The BEAN HUCKLEBERRY ( V. ursinum or gaylussacia ursina) is found on the mountains of North Carolina; the Box-LEAVED HUCKLEBERRY (V. brachweerum or gaylussacia brachycera) in Pennsylvania and Virginia. There are other North American species, as V. Canadense, V. humifusum, and V. parrifolium, humble evergreen shrubs. Several species,are natives of Mexico. V. arciostaphylos is a native of the coast of the Black sea; and V. padifolium is a native of the Caucasus and of Madeira, on the loftiest parts of which island it forms impenetrable thickets, growing from 6 to 10 ft. high.