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Species Details
Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesThin and soft; narrow oval, much longer than wide; soft, short hairs (Moss, 1983). Alternate, deciduous (E-Flora BC). 0.7-4 cm long; 0.5-1 cm wide.
FlowersShort clusters at branch tips; cylindrical bells, 3-5 mm long; greenish white or pink/purple tinge (Johnson et al., 1995). Sepals triangular, 5 lobes (Moss, 1983). Stamens 5; anther base apical; gynoecium syncarpous (Simpson, 2010). Appear when leaves half mature; awnless anther (E-Flora BC). Petals 2-5 mm long.
Fruits and SeedsCovered with blue waxy coating, rarely white (Moss, 1983). 4-7 mm wide; sweet (Johnson et al., 1995). Endospermous; oily and contain protein (Simpson, 2010).
Scientific Name
Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
Common Name
velvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
General Description
Low shrub, 10-50 cm tall, often in dense colonies; twigs have velvety hairs and bear greenish-white to purple tinged flowers (Johnson et al., 1995).
Leaves
Thin and soft; narrow oval, much longer than wide; soft, short hairs (Moss, 1983). Alternate, deciduous (E-Flora BC). 0.7-4 cm long; 0.5-1 cm wide.
Flowers
Short clusters at branch tips; cylindrical bells, 3-5 mm long; greenish white or pink/purple tinge (Johnson et al., 1995). Sepals triangular, 5 lobes (Moss, 1983). Stamens 5; anther base apical; gynoecium syncarpous…
Short clusters at branch tips; cylindrical bells, 3-5 mm long; greenish white or pink/purple tinge (Johnson et al., 1995). Sepals triangular, 5 lobes (Moss, 1983). Stamens 5; anther base apical; gynoecium syncarpous (Simpson, 2010). Appear when leaves half mature; awnless anther (E-Flora BC). Petals 2-5 mm long.
Fruits and Seeds
Covered with blue waxy coating, rarely white (Moss, 1983). 4-7 mm wide; sweet (Johnson et al., 1995). Endospermous; oily and contain protein (Simpson, 2010).
Phenology
Late May to June (Johnson et al., 1995).
Notes
2n=24 (Moss, 1983). Roots tend have endotrophic mycorrhizae (Simpson, 2010). Chipewyan cooked and dried blueberries for winter storage, later eaten by boiling or pounding into pemmican; also used in teas for…
2n=24 (Moss, 1983). Roots tend have endotrophic mycorrhizae (Simpson, 2010). Chipewyan cooked and dried blueberries for winter storage, later eaten by boiling or pounding into pemmican; also used in teas for headaches; Cree used for jam and to treat cancer; Woods Cree used leafy stem to prevent miscarriage, increase bleeding after childbirth, regulate menstruation, stimulate sweating; tea with stems used to prevent pregnancy (Johnson et al., 1995).
Similar species:
Vaccinium angustifolium: low sweet blueberry; similar habitats in SW Alberta; resembles common blueberry but leaves toothed and hairless, no hairs on twigs and fruits not covered with bloom (Johnson et al., 1995).
Vaccinium caespitosum: dwarf blueberry; has shiny, bright green leaves 2-4 times longer than wide; light berries, pale grey bloom (Johnson et al., 1995).
Range/Distribution
Alberta: SW to central (Canadensys). CAN (BC, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE, NT) (Canadensys, USDA). USA (CT, IL, IN, IA, KY, ME, MA, MI, MD, MN, MT, NY, NC, NH, OH, PA, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI) (USDA).
Citation
Page Citation for Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-3981/12-72691. Accessed 09 Feb. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 37 specimens of this Species.
103504 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Teardrop Fen
Date Collected2000-08-02
113337 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cadomin
Date Collected1987-06-22
114892 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Redwater Natural Area
Date Collected2005-05-30
114893 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Redwater Natural Area
Date Collected2005-08-25
115989 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Redwater Natural Area
Date Collected2006-06-21
116253 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Holmes Crossing Sandhills Ecological Reserve
Date Collected2004-07-14
115360 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fox Creek
Date Collected1984-06-21
115361 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fox Creek
Date Collected1984-07-20
117808 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, University of Alberta Woodbend Field Station
Date Collected2007-05-31
119054 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Astotin Creek
Date Collected1999-08-25
119053 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Ilka's Fen
Date Collected2003-08-26
117902 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edson
Date Collected1987-06-05
117901 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edson
Date Collected1987-06-05
122777 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Rocky Mountain House
Date Collected1959-06-13
122371 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Field
Date Collected1963-07-05
123609 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Meanook National Wildlife Area
Date Collected2004-06-13
124476 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park, Kakwa Falls
Date Collected2006-07-12
124477 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park
Date Collected2006-07-26
125820 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Meanook National Wildlife Area
Date Collected2004-06-13
126039 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hoadley
Date Collected2010-07-26
126040 - Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namevelvet-leaved blueberry, common blueberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hoadley
Date Collected2010-07-05