''Vaccinium ovatum'' is a North American species of flowering shrub known by the common names evergreen huckleberry, winter huckleberry, cynamoka berry and California huckleberry.
Distribution and ecology
''Vaccinium ovatum'' is a small to medium-sized
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
native to the
Western Pacific Coast of the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and coastal
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
. Typical flora associates are such plants as the western sword fern (''
Polystichum munitum
''Polystichum munitum'', the western swordfern, is an evergreen perennial fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns in forested areas. It occurs along the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to southern ...
''),
coastal woodfern (''
Dryopteris arguta
''Dryopteris arguta'', with the common name coastal woodfern, is a species of wood fern. It is native to the west coast and western interior mountain ranges of North America, from British Columbia, throughout California, and into Arizona.
It gr ...
''), California snowberry (''
Symphoricarpos mollis
''Symphoricarpos mollis'', with the common names creeping snowberry, Southern California snowberry, and trip vine, is a shrub in the Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae).Flowering Plans of the Santa Monica Mountains, Nancy Dale, 2nd. Ed, 2000, p. ...
''), common snowberry (''
Symphoricarpos albus
''Symphoricarpos albus'' is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family known by the common name common snowberry. Native to North America, it is browsed by some animals and planted for ornamental and ecological purposes, but is poiso ...
''), and
thimbleberry
''Rubus parviflorus'', commonly called thimbleberry, (also known as redcaps) is a species of ''Rubus'' native to northern temperate regions of North America. The plant has large hairy leaves and no thorns. It bears edible red fruit similar in a ...
(''
Rubus parviflorus
''Rubus parviflorus'', commonly called thimbleberry, (also known as redcaps) is a species of ''Rubus'' native to northern temperate regions of North America. The plant has large hairy leaves and no thorns. It bears edible red fruit similar in a ...
''). It is often found sprouting from
nurse log
A nurse log is a fallen tree which, as it decays, provides ecological facilitation to seedlings. Broader definitions include providing shade or support to other plants. Some of the advantages a nurse log offers to a seedling are: water, moss thickn ...
s and growing in conjunction with
red huckleberry
''Vaccinium parvifolium'', the red huckleberry, is a species of ''Vaccinium'' native to western North America.
Description
It is a deciduous shrub growing to tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section. The leaves are ovate to o ...
(''Vaccinium parvifolium'').
Description
''Vaccinium ovatum'' is a true
huckleberry
Huckleberry is a name used in North America for several plants in the family Ericaceae, in two closely related genera: ''Vaccinium'' and ''Gaylussacia''. The huckleberry is the state fruit of Idaho.
Nomenclature
The name 'huckleberry' is a Nort ...
plant, growing well in shade or sun and thriving in
acidic soil
Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of a soil. Soil pH is a key characteristic that can be used to make informative analysis both qualitative and quantitatively regarding soil characteristics. pH is defined as the neg ...
s. Not needing much sun, the plant has a wide variety of forest homes; it is often seen sprouting out of old
coast redwood
''Sequoia sempervirens'' ()''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 is the sole living species of the genus '' Sequoia'' in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include coast redwood, coastal ...
stumps or dense
bramble
A bramble is any rough, tangled, prickly shrub, usually in the genus ''Rubus'', which grows blackberries, raspberries, or dewberries. "Bramble" is also used to describe other prickly shrubs, such as roses (''Rosa'' species). The fruits inclu ...
s of other forest growths. The shiny, alternately arranged, egg-shaped leaves are 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8–1.2 inches) long and about a centimeter wide (0.4 inches) with finely serrated edges. During the summer the plant produces round, edible black
berries
A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...
up to a centimeter (0.4 inches) in diameter, which can remain on the branches until mid-winter. The berries are eaten by birds and mammals throughout autumn.
Uses
Culinary
Traditionally, huckleberries were sought after and collected by many
Native American tribe
In the United States, an American Indian tribe, Native American tribe, Alaska Native village, tribal nation, or similar concept is any extant or historical clan, tribe, band, nation, or other group or community of Native Americans in the Unit ...
s along the
Pacific coast
Pacific coast may be used to reference any coastline that borders the Pacific Ocean.
Geography Americas
Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western or southwestern border, except for Panama, where the Pac ...
in the region, including the
Karok
The Karuk people are an indigenous people of California, and the Karuk Tribe is one of the largest tribes in California. Karuks are also enrolled in two other federally recognized tribes, the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Ran ...
.
The berries can be eaten raw and are said to taste similar to but sweeter and more intense than blueberries, and are a favorite ingredient in jams and jellies.
[ ]Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 – October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, with ...
recorded that he observed indigenous people eating the berries raw, dried, and in bread, which preserved the fruit for a season.
Cultivation
''Vaccinium ovatum'' is grown as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...
for horticultural
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
use by specialty wholesale, retail, and botanic garden native plant nurseries. The plant is successful in natural landscape
A natural landscape is the original landscape that exists before it is acted upon by human culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the kn ...
and native plant
In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equ ...
palette style, and habitat garden
A wildlife garden (or wild garden) is an environment created by a gardener that serves as a sustainable haven for surrounding wildlife. Wildlife gardens contain a variety of habitats that cater to native and local plants, birds, amphibians, ...
s and public sustainable landscape and restoration
Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to:
* Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
** Audio restoration
** Film restoration
** Image restoration
** Textile restoration
* Restoration ecology
...
projects that are similar to its habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
conditions.CNPLX: Vaccinium ovatum
. accessed 11.10.2010
See also
*''
Vaccinium parvifolium
''Vaccinium parvifolium'', the red huckleberry, is a species of ''Vaccinium'' native to western North America.
Description
It is a deciduous shrub growing to tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section. The leaves are ovate to ...
''
*
California mixed evergreen forest
:
California mixed evergreen forest is a plant community found in the mountain ranges of California and southwestern Oregon.
The Mixed evergreen forest plant community is native to the Northern and Southern California Coast Ranges and Sierra Nev ...
*
Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve is a regional park and nature reserve in the Oakland Hills, in the eastern East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area) region of the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It is within Alameda and Contra Costa Counti ...
Gallery
Image:Vaccinium ovatum 3.jpg,
Image:Vaccinium ovatum 2.jpg,
References
Bibliography
* Stephen Foster and Christopher Hobbs. 2002. ''Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs'' (pg. 287). Houghton Miller Company, New York, NY.
External links
Calflora Database: ''Vaccinium ovatum'' (California huckleberry, evergreen huckleberry)''Vaccinium ovatum'' — Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7907967
ovatum
Berries
Flora of the West Coast of the United States
Flora of British Columbia
Flora of California
Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges
Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area
Natural history of the Transverse Ranges
Plants described in 1813
Taxa named by Frederick Traugott Pursh
Fruits originating in North America
Plants used in Native American cuisine
Pre-Columbian California cuisine
Garden plants of North America
Bird food plants
Flora without expected TNC conservation status