Vaccinium scoparium
Vaccinium scoparium is a species of huckleberry known by the common names grouse whortleberry, grouseberry, and littleleaf huckleberry.
Vaccinium scoparium | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Vaccinium |
Species: | V. scoparium |
Binomial name | |
Vaccinium scoparium | |
Synonyms[1][2] | |
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It is native to western North America, primarily in the Rockies, Cascades, and Black Hills from British Columbia and Alberta south to far northern California to Colorado and New Mexico, and east to South Dakota.[3] It grows in mountain habitat such as forests, meadows, and talus, occurring in subalpine and alpine climates at elevations of 700 to 3000 meters (2,333 - 10,000 feet. It is a common understory plant in many forested regions of the Rocky Mountains, being common to abundant in some areas.[4]
Description
Vaccinium scoparium is a squat, bushy rhizomatous shrub growing not more than half a meter (20 inches) in maximum height. It is matted and clumpy, and it spreads outward with the stems rooting at nodes where it comes in contact with moist substrate. The branches are broomlike when leaflike and new green twigs have sharp angles. The deciduous leaves are alternately arranged, the serrated oval leaf blades up to 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) in length.
Solitary flowers occur in the leaf axils. Each is about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long, urn-shaped, and pink.
The fruit is a soft, bright red berry up to 6 millimeters in width. It is edible and has a tart flavor.[5]
Uses
References
- Tropicos, Vaccinium scoparium Leiberg ex Coville
- The Plant List, Vaccinium scoparium Leiberg ex Coville
- Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- US Forest Service Fire Ecology
- Flora of North America, Vaccinium scoparium Leiberg ex Coville, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 5: 103. 1897. Grouse whortleberry
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaccinium scoparium. |
- Jepson Manual Treatment: Vaccinium scoparium
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile — Vaccinium scoparium
- Washington Burke Museum, University of Washington
- Vaccinium scoparium — Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California