| Vaccinium cespitosum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Vaccinium |
| Species: | V. cespitosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Vaccinium cespitosum Michx. 1803 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Vaccinium cespitosum (also,caespitosum), known as thedwarf bilberry,dwarf blueberry, ordwarf huckleberry, is a species of flowering shrub in the genusVaccinium, which includesblueberries,huckleberries, andcranberries.
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Vaccinium cespitosum is a low-lying plant rarely reaching half a meter (1.5 feet) in height which forms a carpet-like stand in rocky mountainousmeadows. The dwarf bilberry foliage is reddish-green to green and the flowers are tiny urn-shaped light pink cups less than a centimeter (<0.4 inches) wide.[3] It has many somewhat angled branches. It forms low mats as it spreads on runners or stolons. The flowers are waxy, bell-shaped, and have five united petals. Unlike true blueberries, which flowers are in clusters, the flowers always occur singly. The bloom period is between the months of May to June, where they are pollinated by bees and flies. The dark blue fruit are on the plant by late-summer. The berries also have a whitish bloom. There are many seeds in the fruit.[4]
The fruits are bluebilberries.[3]
Vaccinium cespitosum is widespread across much ofCanada including all three Arctic territories, as well as the northern and western United States,Mexico, andGuatemala.[5][3][6] Its native habitats include gravelly or rocky meadows and mountain slopes.[7] In the Great Lakes area, it is usually found in savannas or conifer forests. Where bilberry is common, it can be found at higher elevations and in spruce-fir forest. It can also be found in alpine heath and in shrublands.[4]
Bothgrizzly andblack bears eat the fruit. The plant is a host of the butterfly speciesLycaeides idas nabokovi.[4]
The blue bilberries are edible.[3][8]
