Vaccinium (vak-sin'e-um)

The typical genus of the Vacciniaceae. Some include in it the cranberries (Oxy coccus) as well as the blueberries. V. myrtillus, V. nigrum. British huckleberry (or bilberry). All parts of the bush, especially the leaves, contain quinic acid. An extract of the fruits has been used in an enema or suppository in dysentery. The fruit was formerly used as a mildly astringent gargle and as a hemostatic. V. oxycoccos, V. oxycoccus. The cranberry of Europe. The fruits are used as an astringent, detersive, and antiscorbutic and as a refrigerant in fevers. V. vitis idaea. Red huckleberry of Mt. Ida. The leaves and berries were formerly official. The leaves have been used to adulterate uva ursi leaves. [Lat., vaccinus, pertaining to the cow.]