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Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton

Lowbush blueberry, blueberry

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderEricalesTea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
FamilyEricaceaeHeath or heather family
GenusVacciniumAncient Latin name for billberry
SpeciesangustifoliumLatin for “Narrow leaf”

About plant names...

Blueberries grow practically everywhere in Maine, where I grew up. They like acid, sandy soils. While vacationing at our camp on Sebago Lake each summer, we collected blueberries at Bradbury Mountain and other locations. Some of them even made it back down the mountain. Blueberry pie, blueberry pancakes, blueberry muffins: delightful!

Identification: Wild blueberries are much smaller than their cultivated cousins, about ⅛-¼" (3.2-6.3 mm) inch in diameter. They are also more flavorful, not just more intense but somehow sweeter. Plants are rarely over a foot or so in height, though they can reach up to 30" (76 cm) if sheltered. Leaves are a glossy dark green color in the summer. In the fall, they turn reddish-purple. Flowers are small and white, shaped like tiny bells. Fruits are dark blue.

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

Edibility: Scrumptious.

Online References:

Vaccinium angustifolium on Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

Vaccinium angustifolium on Wikipedia

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

Vaccinium angustifolium at Illinois Wildflowers

Vaccinium angustifolium at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Vaccinium angustifolium on the Vital Signs Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Vaccinium angustifolium on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Vaccinium angustifolium on eFloras

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/12/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

7/2/2015 · Bemis Rd., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

4/24/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 9.9 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/12/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Broo, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

9/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 6" (17 × 14 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton var. hypolasium Fernald

Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton var. laevifolium House

Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton var. nigrum (Alph. Wood) Dole

Vaccinium brittonii Porter ex E.P. Bicknell

Vaccinium lamarckii Camp

Vaccinium nigrum (Alph. Wood) Britton

 

Vaccinium angustifolium description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/15/2015 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 7" (18 × 16 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 13 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/15/2015 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 12 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3½" (10 × 9.2 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/14/2015 · Silver Lake, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 3½" (9.5 × 8.7 cm)

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/12/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

7/22/1987 · Camp, Sebago Lake, Maine

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, blueberry)

5/14/2015 · Silver Lake, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

Range: Zones 2-6:

About this map...