Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton
American cranberry, cranberry, large cranberry
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Ericales Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
Family Ericaceae Heath or heather family
Genus Vaccinium Ancient Latin name for billberry
Species macrocarpon “With large fruits or seedpods”
About plant names...
Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs with a fondness for acidic bogs.
Identification: Cranberries are vine-like, creeping
up to 6′ (1.8 m) horizontally, but less than 8″ (20 cm) high. If you aren't standing or floating in a bog, you probably
aren't looking at cranberries. Flowers are pale pink or white, about ½″ (1.3 cm) long, with
four petals that curve strongly backward. Berries
are ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) in diameter and quite hard, like tiny apples. Leaves are about ½″ (1.3 cm) long, oval,
shiny on top. See also the small cranberry .
This Vaccinium comparison chart also includes a couple of similar-appearing species
that are not Vaccinium .
Edibility: Cranberries are too tart to eat fresh, but they have
long been made into jams, cakes, muffins, and juice.
Medical: Several medical studies have explored the
folk belief that regular consumption of cranberry juice reduces the rate of urinary tract
infections (UTIs) in women. Results were mixed.
Online References:
Www.carolinanature.com
The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Www.nativeplanttrust.org
Www.umass.edu (PDF)
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
The Steven Foster Group
No, that’s not a cranberry flower. · 9/16/2016 · Sieur de Monts Botanical Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine
8/18/2013 · Bemis Road, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 22 cm)
10/27/2017 · Bemis Road Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
8/31/2021 · Hackett and Minot Trails, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
10/8/2016 · Groton Town Forest, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Oxycoccus macrocarpus (Aiton) Pursh
Vaccinium macrocarpon description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 1 Sep 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
10/27/2017 · Bemis Road Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
9/1/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain
10/8/2016 · Groton Town Forest, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
4/14/2013 · Bemis Rd, Pepperell, Massachusetts ID is uncertain
10/27/2017 · Bemis Road Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
8/1/2009 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 13 × 9″ (33 × 22 cm)
9/1/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain
8/31/2021 · Hackett and Minot Trails, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
8/1/2009 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 1½′ (74 × 49 cm)
9/1/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain
7/5/2017 · Bemis Rd., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
8/18/2013 · Bemis Road, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)
Range:
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