Vaccinium parvifolium

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Vaccinium parvifolium

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Vaccinium
Species:	V. parvifolium

Binomial name

Vaccinium parvifolium
Sm.

Vaccinium parvifolium (Red Huckleberry) is a species of Vaccinium native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, where it is common in forests from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia south through Washington and Oregon to central California. It occurs mostly at low elevations, from sea level up to a maximum of 1,820 m altitude.

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 4 m tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section. The leaves are ovate to oblong-elliptic, 9-30 mm long and 4-16 mm wide, with an entire margin. The flowers are yellowish-white to pinkish-white, bell-shaped, 4-5 mm long. The fruit is an edible red berry 6-10 mm diameter.

Leaves and fruit

Huckleberry blossom

Indigenous peoples found the plant and its fruit very useful. The bright red, acidic berries were used extensively for food throughout the year. Fresh berries were eaten in large quantities, and berries were also dried for later use. Dried berries were stewed and made into sauces, or mixed with salmon spawn and oil and eaten at winter feasts. The bark of the plant was used as a cold remedy. The leaves were made into tea or smoked. The branches were used as brooms, and the twigs were used to fasten western skunk cabbage leaves into berry baskets.