Ericaceae FAMILY

Vaccinium membranaceum

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Vaccinium membranaceum is an erect, deciduous shrub growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. It rarely develops a crown, but spreads at the roots to form small to extensive clumps of stems usually 10 -110cm tall, occasionally to 300cm[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. , 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants , 1131 Title The Genus Vaccinium in North America Publication Author Vander Kloet S.P. Publisher Canadian Government Publishing Centre; Ottawa Year 1988 ISBN 0-660-13037-8 Description A detailed study of the genus in N. America. ]. This species is, by far, the most widely commercially utilized huckleberry for fruit in Western N. America. It is harvested extensively from the wild both for trade and for local use[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. It is an especially important source of food for native peoples throughout western North America, and the dried berries were used for winter food and trade. The plant yields a good quality fruit, said to be the best quality fruit within its native range[ 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. ]. The plant also has medicinal qualities.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern N. America - Michigan and Alaska to California.

HabitatThickets and woodland edges[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Moist woods[ 235 Title An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Publication Author Britton. N. L. Brown. A. Publisher Dover Publications. New York. Year 1970 ISBN 0-486-22642-5 Description Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book. ]. Thickets and on montane slopes in coniferous woods; growing in sandy orgravelly soils, ranging from moist to dry growing conditions; at elevations from 1,000 - 1,800 metres[ 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. ].