Vaccinium myrtilloides (Velvetleaf blueberry)

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Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.

Velvetleaf blueberry, velvetleaf huckleberry, sourtop blueberry

Velvetleaf blueberry is a North American native.

Plants: These spreading shrubs are up to 1½′ (50 cm) in height, with stems covered with fine hairs.

Leaves: Deciduous, alternate, ⅞–1¼ ⨉ ¼–⅝″ (2.3–3.5 cm ⨉ 8–16 mm), bright green above, much lighter below, covered with soft and velvety hairs.

Flowers: White, urn-shaped, about 1/16–3/16″ (3–5 mm) in size, appearing from May to June.

Fruits: ⅛–¼″ (6–8 mm) in diameter, usually blue with a whitish waxy bloom, sometimes purplish black.

Habitats: Acidic soils, coniferous woods, forested bogs, rocky areas.

This Vaccinium comparison chart also includes a couple of similar-appearing species that are not Vaccinium.

Edibility: Edible, like most members of this genus, but fruit is more acid than most. Flowers are also edible.

Online References:

References:

Cyanococcus canadensis (Kalm ex A. Rich.) Rydb.
Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton var. myrtilloides (Michx.) House
Vaccinium canadense Kalm ex A. Rich.

5/15/2015 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (19 × 16 cm)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (45 × 39 cm)

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Ericales	Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
Family	Ericaceae	Heath or heather family
Genus	Vaccinium	Ancient Latin name for billberry
Species	myrtilloides	Resembling myrtle, from a Greek name for myrtle

Range:

Vaccinium myrtilloides description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.