Shrubs of Treehaven

Blueberry Vaccinium spp.

Foliage Type: leaf Arrangement: simple, alternate

Distinguishing features:

leaf-losing shrub from 8 inches to 2 feet high
bright red fall foliage
leaves - short-stalked, 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long
leaves - narrowly elliptic or lance-shaped (or oblong lanced-shaped) or oval to egg-shaped
leaves - pointed at base and tip
margin - untoothed to finely toothed
leaves - green above (smooth or somewhat downy) and green to pale green (sometimes slightly whitened) beneath (smooth to somewhat downy)
fruit - blue to dark blue

Habitats:

dry mesic sites
mesic sites
wet mesic sites
wet sites (bogs)

Often confused with:

large cranberry
leatherleaf

Ecological Value:

fruits eaten by grouse
browsed by deer, rabbits
man, birds and mammals compete for the fruit.

Did You Know?

blueberries are high in sugar and low in fat (not a superior nutrition source)
blueberry picking is and has been continually been a popular recreational activity.
blueberry seeds are so small that they pass through a species' digestive tract and get scattered on the ground.

Uses / Ethnobotanical uses:

American Indians used the leaf for a tea which acted as a blood purifier.
Used for colic, labor pains, and as a tonic after miscarriage.
Fumes of burning dried flowers were inhaled for madness.

back to the Shrubs of Treehaven

Last updated on September 30, 2001.

Please send any suggestions or corrections to H. Knodle

Habitats:	dry mesic sites mesic sites wet mesic sites wet sites (bogs)
Often confused with:	large cranberry leatherleaf
Ecological Value:	fruits eaten by grouse browsed by deer, rabbits man, birds and mammals compete for the fruit.
Did You Know?	blueberries are high in sugar and low in fat (not a superior nutrition source) blueberry picking is and has been continually been a popular recreational activity. blueberry seeds are so small that they pass through a species' digestive tract and get scattered on the ground.
Uses / Ethnobotanical uses:	American Indians used the leaf for a tea which acted as a blood purifier. Used for colic, labor pains, and as a tonic after miscarriage. Fumes of burning dried flowers were inhaled for madness.