Vaccinium parvifolium

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Vaccinium parvifolium
Fruit and leaves in Issaquah, Washington
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Vaccinium
Species:
V. parvifolium
Binomial name
Vaccinium parvifolium

Vaccinium parvifolium, the red huckleberry, is a species of Vaccinium native to western North America.

Description

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 4 metres (13 feet) tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section. The leaves are ovate to oblong-elliptic, 9 to 30 millimetres (1⁄4 to 1+1⁄4 inches) long, and 4 to 16 mm (1⁄8 to 5⁄8 in) wide, with an entire margin.[1]

The flowers are yellow-white to pinkish-white with pink, decumbent bell-shaped 4 to 5 mm (3⁄16 to 3⁄16 in) long.[1]

The fruit is an edible red to orange berry 6 to 10 mm (1⁄4 to 3⁄8 in) in diameter.[1]

  • Whole plant
    Whole plant
  • Blossoms
    Blossoms
  • Fresh leaves and buds
    Fresh leaves and buds
  • Leaves and berries
    Leaves and berries
  • Close-up of leaves and fruit
    Close-up of leaves and fruit

Distribution and habitat

It is common in forests from southeastern

Washington and Oregon to central California
.

In the Oregon Coast Range, it is the most common Vaccinium.[2] It grows in moist, shaded woodlands.[3]

Ecology

Birds, bears, and small mammals eat the berries. Deer and some livestock forage the foliage.[4]

Cultivation

The species is cultivated in the specialty

habitat gardens; wildlife gardens; and restoration projects.[5][6] Another cultivated species of similar size and habitats is the evergreen Vaccinium ovatum
(evergreen huckleberry).

As a crop plant (along with the other huckleberries of the genus in western North America), it is not currently grown on a large

acidic soil (pH of 4.5 to 6) and does not tolerate root disturbance.[8]

Uses

salmon roe and oil to eat at winter feasts.[1]

The bark or leaves of the plant were brewed for a bitter

western skunk cabbage
leaves into berry baskets.

Huckleberries can be eaten fresh or dried or prepared as a tea or

jelly.[1][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Holm FG (May 2004). "The Natural History of Vaccinium parvifolium Smith, the Red Huckleberry". The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  2. ISBN 978-1-55105-530-5
    .
  3. ^ "Vaccinium parvifolium". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  4. ISBN 0-394-73127-1
    .
  5. ^ "Vaccinium parvifolium". California Native Plant Link Exchange. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  6. ^ "Vaccinium parvifolium". Jepson Horticultural Database. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  7. ^ "Information on Huckleberry Plants". Northwest Berry & Grape Information Network. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Vaccinium parvifolium". Plants for a Future. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  9. OCLC 965922681
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaccinium parvifolium.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaccinium_parvifolium&oldid=1166214264"