Huckleberry
Huckleberry is a name used in
North America for several
plants in two closely related genera in the family
Ericaceae:
Gaylussacia is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plant [i]s in the family Ericaceae [i], nati ...
and
Vaccinium is a genus [i] of shrub [i]s in the plant Family Ericaceae [i] including the cranberry [i] ...
.
While some
Vaccinium species, such as the
Red Huckleberry, are always called huckleberries, other species may be called
blueberries or huckleberries depending upon local custom. Similar
Vaccinium species in
Europe are called
bilberries.
Note that there is much confusion in naming of berries in
American English. The 'garden huckleberry' is not considered to be a true huckleberry but a member of the nightshade family.
Encyclopedia
Huckleberry is a name used in
North America for several
plants in two closely related genera in the family
Ericaceae:
Gaylussacia is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plant [i]s in the family Ericaceae [i], nati ...
and
Vaccinium is a genus [i] of shrub [i]s in the plant Family Ericaceae [i] including the cranberry [i] ...
.
While some
Vaccinium species, such as the
Red Huckleberry, are always called huckleberries, other species may be called
blueberries or huckleberries depending upon local custom. Similar
Vaccinium species in
Europe are called
bilberries.
Note that there is much confusion in naming of berries in
American English. The 'garden huckleberry' is not considered to be a true huckleberry but a member of the nightshade family.
The
fruit of the various species of plant called huckleberry are generally edible. The berries are small and round, usually less than 5 mm in diameter, and contain 10 relatively large seeds. Berries range in color according to species from bright red, through dark purple, and into the blues. In taste the berries range from tart to sweet, with a flavor similar to that of a
blueberry, especially in blue/purple colored varieties. Huckleberries are a favorite of many animals such as
bears.
Environment
In the
Pacific Northwest of
North America, the huckleberry plant can be found in mid-alpine regions, often on the lower slopes of mountains. The plant grows best in damp, acidic soil. Under optimal conditions, huckleberries can be as much as 1.5-2 m high, and usually ripen in mid-to-late summer; later at higher elevations.
Link
is one of the oldest organisms on the planet.
