BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Gaylussacia dumosa | Dwarf Huckleberry 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Dwarf huckleberry is a small, deciduous, erect, much-branched,
rhizomatous shrub which grows from 12 to 30 inches (30-75 cm) in height
[7,11].  Many stems ascend from the base, forming a low, dense, rounded
crown.  The twigs are usually copiously pubescent with short, curly
hairs.  The small deciduous leaves are simple, leathery, obovate to
elliptical with the lower surface typically glandular.  The bell-shaped
tubular flowers are borne on racemes at the end of the branchlets.  The
fruit is a berry with 10 nutlets, each carrying one seed [11,23,24].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte (nanophanerophyte)
   Chamaephyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Dwarf huckleberry can reproduce through seed, although details have not
been described [12,14].  Seeds are dispersed by a variety of birds and
mammals [23,24].  Dwarf huckleberry sprouts from underground rhizomes or
runners after aboveground vegetation is removed by fire or other types
of disturbance [1,2,12].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Dwarf huckleberry commonly grows in pine forest or pine barrens, and at
the edge of shrub-tree bogs, pitcher plant bogs, and bays [7,8,11].
Dwarf huckleberry grows on xeric to mesic sites with well-drained sandy
to clayey soils [11,15].

Common overstory associates of dwarf huckleberry include eastern red
cedar (Juniperus virginiana), tamarack (Larix laracina), redbay (Persea
borbonia), sweetbay (Magnolia virginia), and flowering dogwood (Cornus
florida).  Common understory associates include dangleberry (Gaylussacia
frondosa), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), fetterbush (Leucothoe racemosa), and
blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)  [3,6,15,21].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Fire is an integral part of pine barrens, pine flatwoods, and sand pine
scrub communities in which dwarf huckleberry grows [2].  These
communities have been described as "pyric disclimax" or fire climax
communities.  Fire in these communities does not initiate multistage
succession but instead rejuvenates species which were present in the
preburn community, such as dwarf huckleberry [4,13,19].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Dwarf huckleberry flowers in early spring; the fruit ripens in late
summer or early fall [11].

Related categories for Species: Gaylussacia dumosa | Dwarf Huckleberry