Jump to content

Vaccinium membranaceum: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→See also: Removed redundant information for conciseness
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit
m Reverted edit by 165.83.132.248 (talk) to last version by OAbot
 
(24 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{taxobox
{{Speciesbox
⚫
|image = Vaccinium membranaceum Huckleberry Flowers.jpg
|image = Mountain Huckleberry (14891540149).jpg
|regnum = [[Plantae]]
|status = {{TNCStatus}}
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
|status_system = TNC
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
|status_ref = <ref name="NatureServe">{{cite web |last1=NatureServe |title=''Vaccinium membranaceum'' |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.153705/Vaccinium_membranaceum |access-date=10 April 2024 |location=Arlington, Virginia |date=2024}}</ref>
|unranked_ordo = [[Asterids]]
⚫
|taxon = Vaccinium membranaceum
|ordo = [[Ericales]]
⚫
|authority = [[David Douglas (botanist)|Douglas]] ex [[John Torrey|Torr.]] 1874
|familia = [[Ericaceae]]
|genus = ''[[Vaccinium]]''
|species = '''''V. membranaceum'''''
|binomial = ''Vaccinium membranaceum''
⚫
|binomial_authority = [[David Douglas (botanist)|Douglas]] ex [[John Torrey|Torr.]] 1874
|synonyms_ref=<ref name=fna/>
|synonyms_ref=<ref name=fna/>
|synonyms=*''Vaccinium globulare'' <small>Rydberg</small>
|synonyms=*''Vaccinium globulare'' <small>Rydberg</small>
*''Vaccinium membranaceum'' var. ''rigidum'' <small>(Hooker) Fernald</small>
*''Vaccinium membranaceum'' var. ''rigidum'' <small>(Hooker) Fernald</small>
|}}
}}


'''''Vaccinium membranaceum''''' is a species within the group of Vaccinium commonly referred to as [[huckleberry]]. This particular species is known by the common names '''thinleaf huckleberry''', '''tall huckleberry''', '''big huckleberry''', '''mountain huckleberry''', '''square-twig blueberry''', and (ambiguously) as '''"[[black huckleberry]]"'''.
'''''Vaccinium membranaceum''''' is a species of [[flowering plant]] in the heath family [[Ericaceae]], known by the common names '''thinleaf huckleberry''', '''tall huckleberry''', '''big huckleberry''', '''mountain huckleberry''', '''square-twig blueberry''', and ambiguously as '''"[[black huckleberry]]"'''.


==Distribution ==
==Distribution and habitat ==
''Vaccinium membranaceum'' is native to western North America, with a range extending in the northern from southern [[Alaska]], [[Yukon]], and [[Northwest Territories]] south as far as [[Utah]] and the northern mountains of [[California]]. It can be found from the mountains next to the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the west, to the [[Rocky Mountains]] and [[Black Hills]] in the east.<ref>[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/State/Vaccinium%20membranaceum.png Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution map]</ref>
''Vaccinium membranaceum'' is native to western North America, with a range extending in the northern from southern [[Alaska]], [[Yukon]], and [[Northwest Territories]] south as far as [[Utah]] and the northern mountains of [[California]]. It can be found from the mountains next to the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the west, to the [[Rocky Mountains]] and [[Black Hills]] in the east.<ref>[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/State/Vaccinium%20membranaceum.png Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution map]</ref>


Line 26: Line 22:


==Description==
==Description==
''Vaccinium membranaceum'' is an erect [[shrub]] growing up to {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} in maximum height. The new twigs are yellow-green and somewhat angled. The [[deciduous]] leaves are alternately arranged. The very thin to membranous, oval leaf blades are up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. The edges are serrated, with each tiny tooth tipped with a glandular hair. Solitary flowers occur in the leaf axils. Each is around 6 millimeters (1/4 inch) long, [[urn]]-shaped to cylindrical, and pale pink to waxy bronze in color.<ref name=fna/>
''Vaccinium membranaceum'' is an erect [[shrub]] growing up to {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} in maximum height. The new twigs are yellow-green and somewhat angled. The [[deciduous]] leaves are alternately arranged. The very thin to membranous, oval leaf blades are up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. The edges are serrated, with each tiny tooth tipped with a glandular hair. Solitary flowers occur in the leaf axils. Each is around 6 millimeters (1/4 inch) long, [[urn]]-shaped to cylindrical, and pale pink to waxy bronze in color.<ref name=fna/> Cytology is 2n = 48.<ref name="y832">{{cite journal | last=Redpath | first=Lauren E. | last2=Aryal | first2=Rishi | last3=Lynch | first3=Nathan | last4=Spencer | first4=Jessica A. | last5=Hulse-Kemp | first5=Amanda M. | last6=Ballington | first6=James R. | last7=Green | first7=Jaimie | last8=Bassil | first8=Nahla | last9=Hummer | first9=Kim | last10=Ranney | first10=Thomas | last11=Ashrafi | first11=Hamid | title=Nuclear DNA contents and ploidy levels of North American Vaccinium species and interspecific hybrids | journal=Scientia Horticulturae | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=297 | year=2022 | issn=0304-4238 | doi=10.1016/j.scienta.2022.110955 | page=110955| doi-access=free }}</ref>


They are [[pollination|pollinated]] by [[bee]]s.<ref name=fs/> The mature fruit ranges from red through bluish-purple to a dark, almost black [[berry (botany)|berry]] about a centimeter wide. Each fruit contains an average of 47 tiny seeds.<ref name=fna/><ref name=fs/>
They are [[pollination|pollinated]] by [[bee]]s.<ref name=fs/> The mature fruit ranges from red through bluish-purple to a dark, almost black [[berry (botany)|berry]] about a centimeter wide. Each fruit contains an average of 47 tiny seeds.<ref name=fna/><ref name=fs/>
Line 39: Line 35:
Both humans and wildlife enjoy feasting on this fruit in the late summer and early fall. People have been eating the fruit of this species for thousands of years. It was and continues to be widely used for food by [[Native Americans of the United States|Native Americans]].<ref name=fna/> The [[Kutenai people|Kutenai]] called the black huckleberry '''shawíash''' ([[Kutenai language|Ktunaxa]]: ǂawiyaǂ).<ref>{{Cite web
Both humans and wildlife enjoy feasting on this fruit in the late summer and early fall. People have been eating the fruit of this species for thousands of years. It was and continues to be widely used for food by [[Native Americans of the United States|Native Americans]].<ref name=fna/> The [[Kutenai people|Kutenai]] called the black huckleberry '''shawíash''' ([[Kutenai language|Ktunaxa]]: ǂawiyaǂ).<ref>{{Cite web
| title = FirstVoices- Ktunaxa. Plants: food plants: words.
| title = FirstVoices- Ktunaxa. Plants: food plants: words.
| accessdate = 2012-07-07
| access-date = 2012-07-07
| url = http://www.firstvoices.ca/en/Ktunaxa/word-category/e599527968bd1f59/--Plants---food-plants
| url = http://www.firstvoices.ca/en/Ktunaxa/word-category/e599527968bd1f59/--Plants---food-plants
}}</ref> [[Alaska Natives]] consumed it in bread and pies as a source of [[vitamin C]], the [[Coeur d'Alene people]] ate the fruit fresh, dried, mashed, cooked, and added it to soup or froze it for later use, and many other groups relished it and stored it frozen, dried, pressed into cakes, or canned for winter use.<ref>[http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Vaccinium+membranaceum Ethnobotany, University of Michigan]</ref>
}}</ref> [[Alaska Natives]] consumed it in bread and pies as a source of [[vitamin C]], the [[Coeur d'Alene people]] ate the fruit fresh, dried, mashed, cooked, and added it to soup or froze it for later use, and many other groups relished it and stored it frozen, dried, pressed into cakes, or canned for winter use.<ref>[http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Vaccinium+membranaceum Ethnobotany, University of Michigan]</ref>
Line 68: Line 64:
{{clear}}
{{clear}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q292442}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q292442}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Vaccinium|membranaceum]]
[[Category:Vaccinium|membranaceum]]
[[Category:Berries]]
[[Category:Berries]]
[[Category:Flora of North America]]
[[Category:Flora of Western Canada]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1874]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1874]]
[[Category:Plants used in Native American cuisine]]
[[Category:Plants used in Native American cuisine]]
[[Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States]]
[[Category:Flora of the Southwestern United States]]
[[Category:Flora of South Dakota]]
[[Category:Flora of Michigan]]
[[Category:Flora of Ontario]]
[[Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status]]

Latest revision as of 14:48, 29 July 2024

Vaccinium membranaceum

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Vaccinium
Species:
V. membranaceum
Binomial name
Vaccinium membranaceum
Douglas ex Torr. 1874
Synonyms[2]
  • Vaccinium globulare Rydberg
  • Vaccinium membranaceum var. rigidum (Hooker) Fernald

Vaccinium membranaceum is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae, known by the common names thinleaf huckleberry, tall huckleberry, big huckleberry, mountain huckleberry, square-twig blueberry, and ambiguously as "black huckleberry".

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

Vaccinium membranaceum is native to western North America, with a range extending in the northern from southern Alaska, Yukon, and Northwest Territories south as far as Utah and the northern mountains of California. It can be found from the mountains next to the Pacific Ocean in the west, to the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills in the east.[3]

Isolated populations of this species have been found in Arizona, North Dakota, Minnesota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Ontario.[4][5]

Vaccinium membranaceum grows at higher elevations in subalpine and alpine environments. It occurs in both pine and spruce dominated forests and in open meadow ecosystems. In forests V. membranaceum often dominates the forest understory during early to mid stages of succession.[6] Vaccinium membranceum is fire adapted. The leaves and stems of the huckleberry are resistant to low-intensity fires, and if burned away they will resprout vigorously from rhizomes buried under the soil.[6]

Description

[edit]

Vaccinium membranaceum is an erect shrub growing up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in maximum height. The new twigs are yellow-green and somewhat angled. The deciduous leaves are alternately arranged. The very thin to membranous, oval leaf blades are up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. The edges are serrated, with each tiny tooth tipped with a glandular hair. Solitary flowers occur in the leaf axils. Each is around 6 millimeters (1/4 inch) long, urn-shaped to cylindrical, and pale pink to waxy bronze in color.[2] Cytology is 2n = 48.[7]

They are pollinated by bees.[6] The mature fruit ranges from red through bluish-purple to a dark, almost black berry about a centimeter wide. Each fruit contains an average of 47 tiny seeds.[2][6]

Reproduction

The plant rarely reproduces via seed, rather, it usually spreads by cloning itself from its rhizome or shoots.[6] The seeds do germinate if dispersed by animals, however, as evidenced by populations of the plant growing on the recovering section of Mount St. Helens.[8] Other than the study by Yang et al. (2008) reports of V. membranaceum sprouting from seed are quite rare with other scientists who have studied this species reporting only 6 seedlings observed during 18 years in the field.[9]

Uses

[edit]

Vaccinium membranaceum is the species that is the most commonly collected of all of the wild western huckleberries, and it has great commercial importance.[2] In a good year Vaccinium membranaceum shrubs produce a lot of fruit. The amount of fruit produced by these shrubs is legendary, with stories being told of mountain sides turned purple by all of the fruit, or shrubs being weighed to the ground by large, and abundant berries [10]

Native Americans

[edit]

Both humans and wildlife enjoy feasting on this fruit in the late summer and early fall. People have been eating the fruit of this species for thousands of years. It was and continues to be widely used for food by Native Americans.[2] The Kutenai called the black huckleberry shawíash (Ktunaxa: ǂawiyaǂ).[11] Alaska Natives consumed it in bread and pies as a source of vitamin C, the Coeur d'Alene people ate the fruit fresh, dried, mashed, cooked, and added it to soup or froze it for later use, and many other groups relished it and stored it frozen, dried, pressed into cakes, or canned for winter use.[12]

Wildlife

[edit]

The plant also provides a key food source for black and grizzly bears, which eat the leaves, stems, roots, and fruit.[6] Elk, moose, and white-tailed deer also browse the plant.[6] The thickets provide cover for many species of small animals.[6]

Symbol

[edit]

The huckleberry is the official state fruit of Idaho, with this particular species assumed to be the huckleberry in question.[13]

Management

[edit]

Some Native American groups lit carefully planned controlled burns in wild huckleberry patches to promote fruit production by eliminating competing plants and by stimulating the huckleberry to sprout and spread.[6] Native American groups throughout the Pacific Northwest still utilize this plant as an important cultural food and are active in its management.[14]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ NatureServe (2024). "Vaccinium membranaceum". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Flora of North America, Vaccinium membranaceum Douglas ex Torrey, 1874. Thinleaf huckleberry
  3. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution map
  4. ^ VanderKloet, Sam (1988). The Genus Vaccinium in North America. Ottawa, ON: Research Branch, Agriculture Canada.
  5. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i US Forest Service Fire Ecology
  7. ^ Redpath, Lauren E.; Aryal, Rishi; Lynch, Nathan; Spencer, Jessica A.; Hulse-Kemp, Amanda M.; Ballington, James R.; Green, Jaimie; Bassil, Nahla; Hummer, Kim; Ranney, Thomas; Ashrafi, Hamid (2022). "Nuclear DNA contents and ploidy levels of North American Vaccinium species and interspecific hybrids". Scientia Horticulturae. 297. Elsevier BV: 110955. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2022.110955. ISSN 0304-4238.
  8. ^ Yang, S., et al. (2008). Colonization genetics of an animal-dispersed plant (Vaccinium membranaceum) at Mount St Helens, Washington. Molecular Genetics 17:3 731-40.
  9. ^ Stark and Baker (1992). The Ecology and Culture of Montana Huckleberries: A guide for growers and researchers. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, School of Forestry.
  10. ^ Bowen, Asta (1988). The Huckleberry Book.
  11. ^ "FirstVoices- Ktunaxa. Plants: food plants: words". Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  12. ^ Ethnobotany, University of Michigan
  13. ^ Netstate: Idaho State Fruit
  14. ^ Martin, L. P., et al. (2008). Management and monitoring plan for the enhancement of big huckleberry in Government Meadows, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. USDA Forest Service.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaccinium membranaceum.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaccinium_membranaceum&oldid=1237386560"