Vaccinium membranaceum

Vaccinium membranaceum

Vaccinium membranaceum is a species of the genus of blueberries (Vaccinium ) in the family Ericaceae ( Ericaceae ). It occurs in central and western North America spread before.

Description

Vaccinium membranaceum grows as a shrub that reaches the plant height of 20 to 300 centimeters and is found in small to large groups. The terete to sometimes a bit edgy this year's branches have a smooth or hairy in lines and yellowish- green to reddish - green colored bark.

The green leaves are of a length of 25 to 50 millimeters and a width of 11 to 23 millimeters wide, elliptical to ovate. The leaf margin is finely serrated. The lower leaf surface is glandular.

In its heyday in the late spring to early summer globular flowers are formed. The green sepals are fused at their base and bare. The white, off-white, yellowish - pink or bronze-colored, frosted petals are fused to globular jug -shaped and have a length of 3 to 5 mm and a diameter of 5 to 7 mm. The stamens are bald.

There are shiny or matt, black or dark purple, rarely white or red berries with a diameter from 9 to 13 millimeters. The seeds have a size of about 1 mm.

The chromosome number is 2n = 48

Occurrence

The natural range of Vaccinium membranaceum includes large parts of central and western North America. It extends from British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario in the north to Arizona and California to the south. In the East the dissemination border runs through Colorado, South Dakota, Michigan and Ontario.

One finds this sort, especially in coniferous or mixed forests and needle on dump sites at altitudes 900-3500 m altitude.

Use

The berries of Vaccinium membranaceum are often collected for consumption. For the Indians, they were an important food source. Dried berries were used as storage for the winter.

The berries are eaten raw or cooked. They belong to the bestschmeckensten fruits under the " blueberry " species. Therefore, they are also grown. The medical effects have been investigated.

System

Vaccinium membranaceum 1874 by David Douglas in John Torrey: firstdescribed United States Exploring Expedition, 17 (2 ), pp. 377-378. Synonyms for Vaccinium membranaceum Douglas ex Torr. are Vaccinium globular Rydb. and Vaccinium membranaceum var rigidum ( Hooker ) Fernald. Vaccinium myrtillus membranaceum belongs to the section of the subgenus Vaccinium in the genus Vaccinium.