Vaccinium cespitosum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Vaccinium |
Species: | V. cespitosum |
Binomial name | |
Vaccinium cespitosum Michx. 1803 |
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Synonyms | |
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Vaccinium cespitosum, (also, caespitosum), the dwarf bilberry, is a species of flowering shrub in the genus Vaccinium, which includes blueberries, huckleberries, and cranberries.
Vaccinium cespitosum is widespread across much of Canada including all 3 Arctic territories], as well as the northern and western United States, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Vaccinium cespitosum is a low-lying plant rarely reaching half a meter (1.5 feet) in height which forms a carpet-like stand in rocky mountainous meadows. The dwarf bilberry foliage is reddish-green to green and the flowers are tiny urn-shaped light pink cups less than a centimeter (>0.4 inches) wide.
The fruits are edible blue bilberries.