''Vaccinium fuscatum'', the black highbush blueberry, is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the heath family (

Ericaceae The Ericaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with c.4250 known species spread across 124 genera, making it th ...

). It is native to North America, where it is found in

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

, Canada and the eastern United States. Its typical natural habitat is wet areas such as bogs, pocosins, and swamps. ''Vaccinium fuscatum'' is an upright deciduous shrub. It can be distinguished from the similar-looking ''

Vaccinium corymbosum ''Vaccinium corymbosum'', the northern highbush blueberry, is a North American species of blueberry which has become a food crop of significant economic importance. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern and southern United States, from O ...

'' by its stems and abaxial leaf surfaces are pubescent with dingy hairs, and its dark colored fruit that lacks a glaucous coating. In addition it has an earlier bloom time, producing flowers in early spring. It is sometimes considered a synonym of ''Vaccinium corymbosum''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q17252570 fuscatum Blueberries Flora of Eastern Canada Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora of the South-Central United States Flora of the North-Central United States