Vaccinium deliciosum
Vaccinium deliciosum is a species of the genus of blueberries (Vaccinium ) in the family Ericaceae ( Ericaceae ). It is located in western North America and is very tasty berries.
Description
Vaccinium deliciosum grows as a group- forming shrub, reaching heights of growth of 5 to 150 centimeters. The more or less terete to slightly angular branches rarely have a smooth or hairy in lines and green to blue- green colored bark.
The inverted - ovate to rounded - lanceolate, or rarely elliptical leaves are 17 to 35 mm long and 9-17 mm wide. The leaf edge is usually perforated. They are usually colored blue-green. The two leaf pages are usually hairless, but often occurs along the leaf veins a glandular pubescence on.
In its heyday in the late spring to early summer spherical to pitcher -shaped flowers are formed. The sepals are blue-green in color. The pink to red petals are almost completely fused spherical to pitcher -shaped and have a length of 4 to 6 mm and a diameter of 5 to 7 mm. The stamens are bald.
There are sometimes blue to matte black and red berries with a diameter of 9-13 mm is formed. The seeds have a size of about 1 mm.
The chromosome number is 2n = 48
Distribution and location
The natural range of Vaccinium deliciosum comprises the western part of Canada and the United States. In Canada, the species occurs in southern British Columbia. In the U.S., includes the distribution area of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and northern California.
One finds the way in coniferous forests and on higher pastures and on talus slopes at altitudes 600-2000 m.
System
A synonym for the species is Vaccinium coccineum Piper. Vaccinium myrtillus deliciosum belongs to the section of the subgenus Vaccinium in the genus Vaccinium.
Use
The berries of Vaccinium deliciosum are edible and are considered very palatable. They can be eaten raw or cooked and have a sweet taste. To make them more durable, they are also dried. Studies of the University of Idaho and Washington State University showed that the berries contain 31 different flavors. Both the berries and the leaves contain a lot of vitamin C. The leaves and branches contain quinic acid and were therefore used in the past for the treatment of gout. Tea, can be obtained from the leaves, a blood glucose regulating effect has been demonstrated.
Swell
- Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not deliciosum ISO FormatVaccinium. In: Flora of North America. www.eFloras.org, accessed on 19 December 2010 (English ).
- Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not deliciosum ISO FormatVaccinium. In: USDA NRCS Plant Guide. www.plants.usda.gov, accessed 19 December 2010 (PDF, 97 kB, English).