Introductory
SPECIES: Vaccinium myrtilloides | Velvetleaf Blueberry 



ABBREVIATION : 
VACMYT

SYNONYMS : 
   Vaccinium canadense
   Vaccinium angustifolium var. integrifolium
   Vaccinium pennsylvanicum var. myrtilloides
   Vaccinium angustifolium var. myrtilloides
   Cyanococcus canadensis


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   VAMY


COMMON NAMES : 
   velvetleaf blueberry


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name of velvetleaf blueberry is
Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx. (Ericaceae) [41].  The following forms,
distinguished primarily on the basis of fruit color, have been
identified [3,66,90]:

                forma chicoccum (Deane) Fernald - (white fruit)
                forma myrtilloides - (blue fruit with bloom)

Velvetleaf blueberry hybridizes with a number of species including sweet
hurts blueberry (V. boreale), hillside blueberry (V. pallidum), Darrow's
evergreen blueberry (V. darrowii), small cluster blueberry (V.
tenellum), downy blueberry (V. atrococcum), V. vacillans, and low sweet
blueberry (V. angustifolium) [1,10,22,32,78,87].  Naturally occurring
velvetleaf blueberry-sweet hurts blueberry hybrids are particularly
common and produce populations or "hybrid complexes" which exhibit
numerous intermediate characteristics [32,78].  In the past, much
taxonomic confusion has surrounded the relationship between velvetleaf
blueberry and low sweet blueberry.  Velvetleaf blueberry was formerly
considered a variety of low sweet blueberry [90].  Plants of
intermediate characteristics, which were once delineated as Vaccinium
angustifolium var. integrifolium (synonym var. hypolasium), are now
considered natural hybrids produced from a velvetleaf blueberry-low
sweet blueberry cross [33,78,90].



LIFE FORM : 
Shrub

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
Velvetleaf blueberry is tentatively listed by Washington as critically
imnperiled (S1?) in that state [103].

In Montana, velvetleaf blueberry has been found in only one location
near West Glacier.  It is, however, widespread in neighboring Alberta
[55].  

Velvetleaf blueberry was formerly believed to be extirpated from Ohio,
but several populations were found in 1984 [17].


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
D. Tirmenstein, August 1990


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Tirmenstein, D. 1990. Vaccinium myrtilloides. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Vaccinium myrtilloides | Velvetleaf Blueberry