Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Grouse Whortleberry
Vaccinium scoparium
Heather family (Ericaceae)

One common name for this plant is "Grouse Whortleberry," for it is an important summer and early fall food for grouse -- and other animals. The are also humanly edible and are used in preserves and pies. Grouse Whortleberry is a member of the Vaccinium and this can especially be seen in the similarity of its flowers with those of other members of this . This species tends to grow at higher elevations than the similar Common Bilberry (V. myrtillus).


©2010 Jim Kravitz

Description

Dwarf shrub, 4-10" tall, that often forms a carpet. Twigs are many, green, strongly angled and broom-like. Leaves are , , thin, , and sharp-pointed. Flowers are solitary, nodding, urn-like pink or white blossoms in the axils of the lowest leaves. are round, bright-red, 1/4" .

Field Marks

Low shrub with small sharp-pointed leaves and small red .

© Al Schneider

ovate -- Oval, egg-shaped, with a tapering point.

serrate -- toothed with asymmetrical teeth pointing forward; like the cutting edge of a saw.

Deciduous plants are those that lose all of their leaves for part of the year.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

The botanical term "berry" is different from common usage. Strawberries and raspberries are not berries. But a tomatoe is. A true berry is a fruit with the seeds immersed in the pulp.

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

alternate -- leaves alternate along the main stem and are attached singly.