Authority:

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

Family:

Ericaceae

Description:

Species Description - Low, diffuse or matted, stoloniferous shrubs; lvs deciduous, firm, elliptic to oblong-obovate, blunt, entire; fls all or mostly 4-merous, in clusters of 1–4 from the axils of bud- scales, on pedicels 2–5 mm; sep ovate or triangular, 1 mm; cor pink, ovoid; anthers spurred; fr sweet, dark blue or black; x=12. Circumboreal, s. to n. N. Engl., n. N.Y., and n. Mich. June, July. Most of our plants belong to the circumboreal tetraploid var. alpinum Bigelow, often growing in bogs or muskeg, 1–3 dm, with lvs 10–25 mm and densely hairy on both sides, the frs 4–6 mm. (V. pubescens) In alpine sites we also have the diploid var. gaultherioides (Bigelow) Bigelow, occurring mainly from Greenl. and e. Can. to the high mts. of N. Engl., dwarf and tufted or matted, the glabrous or subglabrous lvs 5–10 mm and the fr 2–4 mm. (V. microphyllum)

Common Names:

bog-bilberry