Sweet Low Blueberry

Vaccinium angustifolium

Family Ericaceae
Notable Features
Leaves: Leaves are alternate* and elliptical, with pointed tips smooth edges or very finely toothed*; exist on a short, smooth stem.
Twigs: TTwigs either bright green or red in color, and often take on a zigzag pattern, with a bud* at each change in direction.
Fruit/ Flowers: Small white, light pink, or green tinged flowers appear April through June. Dark blue berries, often covered with a fine white-powder, appear from these flowers June through September. Each berry has five calyx lobes* that form a star pattern.
Size/ Shape: A small, low-to-the-ground shrub, usually not exceeding heights of 18 inches (½ meter). Found in waste areas, forests, bogs, and tundra and in acidic soils.
Location on Campus

(click for map)
Sweet Low Blueberries grow in the Sachar Woods, as well as around the edge of the thicket next to Chapel's Field.
Uses
The berries are a nice trailside snack eaten out of hand, dried, or can be made into a jelly or jam.
Except where specifically noted, all text, photographs, and drawings copyright Chris Bersbach and Lisa Leombruni 2002. No part of this page may be reproduced without the express permission of the authors.