Vaccinium myrtilloides (Velvetleaf blueberry)

Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.

Velvetleaf blueberry, velvetleaf huckleberry, sourtop blueberry

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
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

About plant names...

Velvetleaf blueberry is a North American native.

Identification: These spreading shrubs are up to 20" (50 cm) in height, with stems covered with fine hairs. Leaves are deciduous, alternate, ⅞-1¼" (2.3-3.5 cm) × ¼-⅝" (8-16 mm), bright green above, much lighter below, covered with soft and velvety hairs. Flowers are white, urn-shaped, about ¹/₁₆-³/₁₆" (3-5 mm) in size, appearing May-June. Fruit is ⅛-¼" (6-8 mm) in diameter, usually blue with a whitish waxy bloom, sometimes purplish black.

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:

Vaccinium myrtilloides at Ontario Trees & Shrubs

Vaccinium myrtilloides on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Vaccinium myrtilloides at the University of Michigan Herbarium

Vaccinium myrtilloides on gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Vaccinium myrtilloides on biology.burke.washington.edu

Vaccinium myrtilloides on BorealForest.org

Vaccinium myrtilloides on eFloras

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 298

Cyanococcus canadensis (Kalm ex A. Rich.) Rydb.

Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton var. myrtilloides (Michx.) House

Vaccinium canadense Kalm ex A. Rich.

Vaccinium myrtilloides description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 18 × 15" (45 × 39 cm)

Range:

About this map...