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Vaccinium oxycoccos L.

Bog Cranberry

Ericaceae (Heath family)

Synonyms: Oxycoccus oxycoccos MacM.

General Description: A low, creeping evergreen shrub with very slender stems. The oval to lance-shaped leaves are 5-15 mm long, deep green and shiny on the upper surface and grayish beneath, and with revolute margins. One to several flowers are borne on short, slender, erect branches. The flowers are pink, with four distinct usually recurved petals and protruding stamens. The anthers are unawned. Fruits are a deep red berry 5-10 mm broad.

Illustration.

Field Identification Tips: The creeping evergreen habit, the revolute leaf margins, the four free, reflexed petals, and deep red berry are good field characters.

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Phenology: Flowers May to July.

Similar Species: Not likely to be confused with other Vaccinium species in our flora due to its creeping habit, distinctly reflexed petals, and boggy habitat. It is more likely to be confused with Gaultheria hispidula (creeping snowberry) which can occur in the same habitat. If the urn-shaped flowers with fused petals or the white berries are present, it is easy to distinguish G. hispidula. If not, the creeping stems and leaves of G. hispidula have brownish hairs to help distinguish it.

Habitat: Sphagnum bogs and other peatlands.

Global Distribution: Circumboreal; in North America it extends across Canada, southward to North Carolina in the east, also into the north-central tier of states, and in the west in Washington, Oregon, and northern Idaho.

Idaho Distribution: Mostly in the Priest Lake area in Bonner County, but also in Kootenai County.

References:

Photo © Robert Moseley CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Bursik, R. J. 1992. Field investigations of sensitive plant taxa occurring on the Priest Lake Ranger District, Kanisku National Forest, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Unpublished report prepared for the Panhandle National Forests by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 141 pp. plus appendices.

Caicco, S. L. 1987. Field investigations of selected sensitive plant species on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for the Panhandle National Forests by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 44 pp. plus appendices.

Lorain (Ebrahimi), C. 1991. Rare plants on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Pamphlet prepared for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Coeur d'Alene, ID. 49 pp.

Owen, W. 1996. Key to the genus Vaccinium in Idaho based on vegetative characteristics. USDA Forest Service, Boise National Forest.