Hello Everyone, Do you know what this plant is? It grows low on the ground, and has nice dense leaves that are somewhat glossy. Location : Pacific Ranges Elevation : 1200 m Season : Late July Jason
I see. I did wonder about this plant because it has an overall look that has similarities to other huckleberry species I've seen - although those ones tend to have rounder leaves. What I find most confusing is when a single huckleberry plant has both rounder and more pointed leaves, compounded by variations in leave shape, size and surface texture between very young and older plants.
As mentioned best to be seeing these plants in fruit. Meanwhile if you look at the Pojar & Mackinnon pocket guide there is a table comparing characters of native Vaccinium.
And if you really want to delve into Vaccinium, know that hybridization is a complicating factor among these shrubby montane species.
The wild plants form hybrids naturally. I don't know if the hybrids make offspring in Vaccinium. They seem to in Arctostaphylos where Arctostaphylos uva-ursi intersects with Arctostaphylos columbiana