Small & Large Cranberries Flowering
There are two dominant species of wild cranberries, Large (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and Small (Vaccinium oxycoccos), that can be found in acidic northern bogs. Large Cranberry has been cultivated in the U.S. and is the source of the store-bought juice, sauce and berries that we drink and eat. (In Europe and Russia, Small Cranberry is cultivated.)
Pictured is Small Cranberry. As you can see, the structure of the flower, with recurved petals and single style (longer, female part) and stamens (shorter male parts) exposed and pointed forward, bears a resemblance to the neck, head, and bill of a crane (hence, the name cranberry).
Related to blueberries and huckleberries, cranberries are high in nutrients and antioxidants. They are associated with the treatment of ailments including urinary tract infections, high blood pressure and certain kinds of cancer.
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Buckbean Flowering
If you are within driving distance of a bog, June is prime time to visit. Pitcher plants, orchids and many other acidic-loving plants are in flower at this time of year. One of my very favorites is Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata).
Buckbean’s elaborately fringed petals are unique. The most plausible explanation for this seems to be that the intertwined, twisted fringes prevent small insects, which are not functional pollinators, from reaching the flower’s nectar. Larger bumble bees, flies and butterflies, which, for the most part, manage to avoid becoming entangled in these fringes, do reach the nectar and are effective pollinators.
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