Genus Vaccinium Rank Species | ||
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Similar Vaccinium cespitosum, Vaccinium membranaceum, Vaccinium ovalifolium, Vaccinium caesariense, Vaccinium crassifolium | ||
Vaccinium deliciosum is a species of bilberry known by the common names Cascade bilberry, Cascade blueberry, and blueleaf huckleberry.
Vaccinium deliciosum is native to western North America from British Columbia to northern California with a few isolated populations in eastern Idaho. It grows at elevations of 600–2,000 metres (2,000–6,600 ft) in subalpine and alpine climates. Its habitat includes coniferous forests and meadows.
Description
Vaccinium deliciosum is a rhizomatous shrub taking a clumpy, matted form, its tangling stem rooting where its nodes touch moist substrate. It may form expansive colonies. The new green twigs are hairless and waxy and the deciduous leaves are alternately arranged. The thin oval leaf blades are up to 5 centimeters long while the edges are mostly smooth but may be serrated near the ends.
Solitary flowers occur in the leaf axils. Each is 6 or 7 millimeters long, widely urn-shaped to rounded, and pale pink in color. The fruit is a waxy blue or reddish berry which may be over a centimeter (>0.4 inches) wide. It is said to be particularly tasty.
