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bog bilberry, bog blueberry

early blueberry, oval-leaf blueberry

Habit Shrubs deciduous, 0.2–0.7 m, in dense mats; stems round in cross section; twigs round in cross section to angled, green to grayish brown, glabrous to finely puberulent, older twigs slightly peeling; rhizomatous. Shrubs deciduous, 3–35 dm, clumped; stems round in cross section; twigs slightly angled or with sharp ridges, yellow-green to brown, glabrous to minutely puberulent; not rhizomatous.
Leaves

ovate to elliptic, 9–29 × 4–18 mm; thin or thick at maturity;

margins entire;

tips rounded to acute;

surfaces abaxially glabrous or glaucous, adaxially glabrous.

ovate to elliptic, 25–40 × 15–20 mm, light green to bluish green; thin; flexible;

margins entire to minutely serrate on lower 50%;

tips usually rounded or sometimes acute;

surfaces usually glaucous, adaxially occasionally glabrous.

Inflorescences

racemes, 2–4-flowered, occasionally 1-flowered.

solitary flowers in axils.

Flowers

distinct;

sepals 4 or 5, usually glaucous;

corollas urceolate, 4–6 × 2–5 mm, white to pink, glaucous;

petals 4 or 5;

filaments ? anthers, glabrous.

sepals 5, glabrous or sometimes glaucous;

calyx lobes minute or absent;

petals 5;

corollas subglobose to urceolate, 4–7 × 3–5 mm, pink, glaucous;

filaments < anthers, glabrous.

Fruits

4–9 mm in diameter, blue to bluish black, with a faint bloom.

6–10 mm in diameter, blue to black, with a bloom.

2n

=24, 48, 72.

=24.

Vaccinium uliginosum

Vaccinium ovalifolium

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Wet mid-elevation montane and coastal habitats. Flowering May–Sep. 0–2400 m. BW, Casc, ECas, Est, Sisk. CA, ID, NV, WA; northern US and Canada; Asia, Europe. Native.

Some authorities consider the coastal form of V. uliginosum a distinct species (V. occidentale). If recognized, this species would be identified by its distinctly reticulated leaf veins, thin leaves, and smaller fruits.

Moist mid-elevations, occasionally coastal. Flowering Mar–Jul. 0–2100 m. BW, Casc, CR, ECas, Est. North to AK and east to Prince Edward Island; Asia. Native.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 642
Stephen Meyers
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 640
Stephen Meyers
Sibling taxa
V. caespitosum, V. corymbosum, V. deliciosum, V. macrocarpon, V. membranaceum, V. myrtillus, V. ovalifolium, V. ovatum, V. oxycoccos, V. parvifolium, V. scoparium
V. caespitosum, V. corymbosum, V. deliciosum, V. macrocarpon, V. membranaceum, V. myrtillus, V. ovatum, V. oxycoccos, V. parvifolium, V. scoparium, V. uliginosum
Synonyms Vaccinium occidentale, Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. occidentale, Vaccinium uliginosum var. alpinum, Vaccinium uliginosum var. uliginosum Vaccinium alaskaense
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