A study of any herb wouldn’t be complete without at least mentioning the scientific names. With cranberries, there are only two species, however, there are several varieties. There is the small cranberry known scientifically as vaccinium oxycoccos. Vaccinium comes from the Latin word vacca which means cow. Apparently cows like to eat these small berries, thus the name. The other variety of cranberry is the large one, which is the one we use in cooking and such. These are known as V. macrocarpon, with macro meaning large.
By looking at the leaves, you can easily tell the difference between these two varieties. The small cranberry’s leaves curl under, while the leaves of the large cranberry are smooth and oval. There is also a difference in the size of the fruit that each one bears. Vaccinium oxycoccos fruit generally ranges in size from a quarter of an inch to half and inch, while the fruit of V. macrocarpon ranges from half an inch to one inch in size.
As for the varieties, well, there’s a lot! However there are four main varieties: European, American, Mountain, and Highbush. The American variety is typically what we find here in the United States, and is used fresh, and in cranberry juice. The European variety is smaller, and mostly used for decorative purposes. Another small variety is the Mountain cranberry, which is occasionally found in stores. The Highbush (Viburnum trilobum) variety is actually not technically a cranberry, although it looks very similar. These “cranberries” grow on a shrub with pointed leaves, whereas the real cranberry grows on a vine with rounded leaves in boggy, swampy areas.
By looking at the leaves, you can easily tell the difference between these two varieties. The small cranberry’s leaves curl under, while the leaves of the large cranberry are smooth and oval. There is also a difference in the size of the fruit that each one bears. Vaccinium oxycoccos fruit generally ranges in size from a quarter of an inch to half and inch, while the fruit of V. macrocarpon ranges from half an inch to one inch in size.
As for the varieties, well, there’s a lot! However there are four main varieties: European, American, Mountain, and Highbush. The American variety is typically what we find here in the United States, and is used fresh, and in cranberry juice. The European variety is smaller, and mostly used for decorative purposes. Another small variety is the Mountain cranberry, which is occasionally found in stores. The Highbush (Viburnum trilobum) variety is actually not technically a cranberry, although it looks very similar. These “cranberries” grow on a shrub with pointed leaves, whereas the real cranberry grows on a vine with rounded leaves in boggy, swampy areas.
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