What is "vaccinium"

Vaccinium \Vac*cin"i*um\, n. [L., the blueberry, or whortleberry.] (Bot.) A genus of ericaceous shrubs including the various kinds of blueberries and the true cranberries.

n. (context botany English) Any of the genus ''Vaccinium'' of ericaceous shrubs including the various kinds of blueberries and the true cranberries.

Vaccinium is a common and widespread genus of shrubs or dwarf shrubs in the heath family. The fruit of many species are eaten by humans and some are of commercial importance, including the cranberry, blueberry, bilberry or whortleberry, lingonberry or cowberry, and huckleberry. Like many other ericaceous plants, they are generally restricted to acidic soils.