Does anyone know what type of berry this is? It looks a lot like a blueberry, but slightly more round/oval in shape. It tastes similar, too... only a bit more bitter & seedy inside. I have scoured the internet looking for something like it, but can't find anything similar. Thanks!
Can someone ID this plant? Please don't tell me it's Salal... I've had two people from Yahoo Answers tell me that's what it is and it bears absolutely NO resemblance!
Re: Can someone ID this plant? Looks like a Vaccinium. There are over 150 different species. Difficult to say from your pics, but possibly Vaccinium pallidum. See... http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=92
Re: Can someone ID this plant? I don't think that's what it is because notice the low bush blueberry has a pronounced area on the berries where the blossom was. In the example in my photos, the berry is pretty smooth all around and the area where the flower was attached is smoothed down. (Make any sense?) But the leaves do look similar... I wish I saw what the flowers looked like before they became berries. It would have helped with the ID...
The key to Vaccinium in the Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada works primarily on floral characteristics. Twigs sure look like something in the Ericaceae - a bit wiry.
I think I figured it out!!! I think I figured it out! I think it's a "Farkleberry (Sparkleberry, Blueberry, Tree Huckleberry) Vaccinium arboreum"! Check out the pix on this site: http://www.catnapin.com/WildWeeds/TreeShrub/TreeMiscShrub.htm
Vaccinium arboreum, is one I looked at when considering my suggestion. The leaves on it are described as dark green, shiny above (leathery texture) paler net like veins beneath. Not sure your leaf fits this description. Would recommend you take Daniel's advice and take pics of the flowers next year. http://www.floridata.com/ref/v/vacc_arb.cfm
Thanks, I will do that. Not sure now that it is Sparkleberry, as it doesn't appear they grow in Massachusetts, so once again, I am stumped :(
Look at information about those that do grow there. And try local resources like public gardens, herbaria and nurseries, taking specimens with you to show to others and compare with other specimens.
