Vaccinium parvifolium
Vaccinium parvifolium | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Vaccinium |
Species: | V. parvifolium |
Binomial name | |
Vaccinium parvifolium Sm. |
Vaccinium parvifolium, the red huckleberry, is a species of Vaccinium native to western North America, where it is common in forests from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia south through western Washington and Oregon to central California.
In the Oregon Coast Range, it is the most common Vaccinium.[1] It occurs mostly at low to middle elevations in soil enriched by decaying wood and on rotten logs, from sea level up to 1,820-metre (6,000 ft).
Description[edit]
It is a deciduous shrub growing to 4-metre (13 ft) tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section. The leaves are ovate to oblong-elliptic, 9-millimetre (0.35 in) to 30-millimetre (1.2 in) long, and 4-millimetre (0.16 in) to 16-millimetre (0.63 in) wide, with an entire margin.[2]
The flowers are yellow-white to pinkish-white with pink, decumbent bell-shaped 4-millimetre (0.16 in) to 5-millimetre (0.20 in) long.[2]
The fruit is an edible red to orange berry 6-millimetre (0.24 in) to 10-millimetre (0.39 in) in diameter.[2]
Gallery[edit]
Uses[edit]
Indigenous peoples of North America found the plant and its fruit very useful.[2] The bright red, acidic berries were used extensively for food throughout the year. Fresh berries were eaten in large quantities, or used for fish bait because of the slight resemblance to salmon eggs. Berries were also dried for later use. Dried berries were stewed and made into sauces, or mixed with salmon roe and oil to eat at winter feasts.[2]
The bark or leaves of the plant were brewed for a bitter cold remedy, made as tea or smoked.[2] The branches were used as brooms, and the twigs were used to fasten western skunk cabbage leaves into berry baskets.
Huckleberries can be eaten fresh or dried or prepared as a tea or jelly.[2][3]
Cultivation[edit]
Vaccinium parvifolium is cultivated in the specialty horticulture trade with limited availability as an ornamental plant: for natural landscaping, native plant, and habitat gardens; wildlife gardens; and restoration projects.[4][5] 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 Vaccinium in western North America), it is not currently grown on a large Commercial agriculture scale, despite efforts to make this possible.[6] It requires acidic soil (pH of 4.5 to 6) and does not tolerate root disturbance.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ Pojar, Jim; MacKinnon, Andy (2004). Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Auburn, WA: Lone Pine Publishing. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-55105-530-5.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Vaccinium parvifolium". Plants for a Future. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Vaccinium parvifolium". California Native Plant Link Exchange. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Vaccinium parvifolium". Jepson Horticultural Database. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Information on Huckleberry Plants". Northwest Berry & Grape Information Network. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaccinium parvifolium. |
- Vaccinium
- Berries
- Flora of the West Coast of the United States
- Flora of Alaska
- Flora of British Columbia
- Flora of Oregon
- Flora of Washington (state)
- Flora of California
- Flora of the Cascade Range
- Flora of the Klamath Mountains
- Flora of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)
- Plants used in traditional Native American medicine
- Plants used in Native American cuisine
- Garden plants of North America
- Bird food plants