FNA: Vaccinium vs. Vaccinium myrtillus

Phenology

Flowering late spring–summer.

Habitat

Heaths, montane heaths, boggy barrens, degraded meadows, open coniferous forests, oak parklands, disturbed or open birch woods, hummocky seepage slopes, moraines

Elevation

0-2600 m (0-8500 ft)

Distribution

North America; Mexico; Central America; West Indies; n South America; Europe; Asia (including Malesia)

[BONAP county map]

AZ; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; AB; BC; Greenland; Europe; e Asia (Japan)

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Species ca. 500 (25 in the flora).

The North American species of Vaccinium are distributed among ten sections. Some of these (e.g., Oxycoccus, Polycodium) have been treated as genera by recent authors, although only Oxycoccus has been recognized at genus rank widely among North American authors. Molecular data support the idea that Vaccinium is a natural genus, albeit large and diverse, provided that Oxycoccus is included.

In eastern North America, the name huckleberry is applied to species of Gaylussacia, while in western North America some species of Vaccinium are called huckleberries. Most, if not all, species of Vaccinium are edible, finding wide acceptance as fresh fruits, and for pies, preserves, etc. Some have medicinal value, especially V. macrocarpon for urinary problems. Further uses and references are noted with the individual species.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Vaccinium myrtillus fruits are popular in Europe and are known to possess antioxidants and other compounds beneficial to vascular health. Berries in Europe are extensively harvested from wild stands. In North America, the fruits were used by the Kootenai, Carrier, Shuswap, and other native tribes. The small plant and fruit sizes create challenges for commercialization in North America.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key

1. Inflorescences in axils of leaves or bracts of shoots of current season (or older shoots)	→ 2
1. Inflorescences on previous year’s shoots or on older woody stems (sometimes on new growth as well)	→ 10
2. Berries 4-locular; corollas deeply 4-lobed	→ 3
2. Berries 5-locular; corollas globose to urceolate, shallowly or scarcely lobed [45c. sect. Myrtillus]	→ 4
3. Plants erect shrubs [45a. sect. Oxycoccoides].	V. erythrocarpum
3. Plants usually trailing vines, ascending [45c. sect. Oxycoccus (in part)].	V. macrocarpon
4. Berries red or bluish purple and translucent; twigs angled, green	→ 5
4. Berries deep purple, purplish black, black, or blue (rarely bluish black, maroon, reddish, or red); twigs usually ± terete, sometimes angled, yellow-green, green, reddish green, reddish brown, or golden brown	→ 6
5. Shrubs colonial, 0.7-2 dm; berries 4-6 mm diam.	V. scoparium
5. Shrubs crown-forming, 10-70 dm; berries 7-10 mm diam.	V. parvifolium
6. Leaf blades with margins sharply serrate, surfaces glandular abaxially	→ 7
6. Leaf blades with portions of margins ± entire, surfaces sometimes eglandular abaxially or, rarely, glandular throughout	→ 8
7. Twigs green, angled.	V. myrtillus
7. Twigs yellow-green or reddish green, terete to slightly angled.	V. membranaceum
8. Shrubs 3-40 dm, clumped.	V. ovalifolium
8. Shrubs 0.3-15 dm, forming small clumps to extensive colonies	→ 9
9. Twigs green (sometimes glaucous), usually glabrous, rarely hairy.	V. deliciosum
9. Twigs yellow-green, reddish green, or reddish brown, finely puberulent or, rarely, glabrous.	V. cespitosum
10. Twigs not verrucose	→ 11
10. Twigs verrucose [45i. sect. Cyanococcus]	→ 17
11. Leaves usually deciduous	→ 12
11. Leaves persistent	→ 14
12. Racemes 2-4-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary, ebracteate; corollas urceolate; berries blue [45b. sect. Vaccinium].	V. uliginosum
12. Racemes 5-17-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary, bracteate; corollas campanulate to urceolate; berries green, yellow-green, yellow, purple, or black	→ 13
13. Corollas campanulate; pedicels continuous with calyx tubes [45e. sect. Polycodium].	V. stamineum
13. Corollas campanulate to urceolate; pedicels articulated with calyx tubes [45g. sect. Batodendron].	V. arboreum
14. Plants usually trailing, sometimes ascending vines	→ 15
14. Plants subshrubs or shrubs	→ 16
15. Berries deep red, 4-locular; pedicels 2-3 cm [45c. sect. Oxycoccus (in part)].	V. oxycoccos
15. Berries black, 5-locular; pedicels 0.1-0.3 cm [45h. sect. Herpothamnus].	V. crassifolium
16. Plants rhizomatous, 0.1-3.5 dm; berries red, 4-locular [45d. sect. Vitis-idaea].	V. vitis-idaea
16. Plants clump- or crown-forming, (3-)4-12(-40) dm; berries black or blue, 5-locular [45j. sect. Pyxothamnus].	V. ovatum
17. Shrubs 10-50 dm; leaf blades 15-70 mm.	V. corymbosum
17. Shrubs 0.1-15 dm; leaf blades 5-62 mm	→ 18
18. Leaves persistent for 1+ years	→ 19
18. Leaves usually deciduous, rarely persistent	→ 20
19. Leaf blades glandular abaxially; twigs bright green; berries black.	V. myrsinites
19. Leaf blades glabrous abaxially; twigs pale green (glaucous); berries blue.	V. darrowii
20. Leaf blades glandular abaxially.	V. tenellum
20. Leaf blades eglandular abaxially	→ 21
21. Leaf blade margins sharply and uniformly serrate	→ 22
21. Leaf blade margins entire	→ 23
22. Shrubs 0.1-0.9 dm; leaf blades 2-6 mm wide.	V. boreale
22. Shrubs 1-3 dm; leaf blades (5-)6-16(-20) mm wide.	V. angustifolium
23. Leaf blades pale green or glaucous abaxially, surfaces usually glabrous; twigs hairy in lines or glabrous.	V. pallidum
23. Leaf blades green abaxially, surfaces densely hairy; twigs pilose or hairy	→ 24
24. Corollas and calyces glandular.	V. hirsutum
24. Corollas and calyces eglandular.	V. myrtilloides