Dwarf huckleberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwarf huckleberry |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Gaylussacia |
| Species: |
G. dumosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gaylussacia dumosa |
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The dwarf huckleberry (scientific name: Gaylussacia dumosa) is a fascinating flowering plant. It belongs to the heath family, just like blueberries! People also call it the bush huckleberry or gopherberry.
This plant is native to eastern North America. You can find it from Newfoundland in Canada all the way down to Louisiana and Florida in the United States. It grows both along the coastal plain and in mountain areas.
Contents
Discovering the Dwarf Huckleberry
The dwarf huckleberry is a type of shrub. It grows branches right from its base. This plant stands upright and can reach a height of about 75 centimeters (30 inches). That's about as tall as a large dog!
Its young branches are often covered in soft, curly hairs. The leaves are oval-shaped and feel a bit leathery. They are also deciduous, meaning they fall off in the autumn. These leaves have tiny glands, which are like small dots that might produce a sticky substance.
The plant produces pretty, bell-shaped flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called racemes. After the flowers, the plant forms a small, tasty berry.
How Does the Dwarf Huckleberry Grow?
The dwarf huckleberry has a special way of growing. It grows from an underground stem called a rhizome. This rhizome helps the plant spread and create new shoots.
The plant can reproduce in two ways. It makes new plants from its seeds. It also sprouts new plants directly from its rhizome. This means it can grow back easily, even after events like wildfires.
Where Does the Dwarf Huckleberry Grow?
This plant is quite adaptable. It can live in both dry and moist places. You might find it in different types of forests. It also thrives in pine barrens, pine flatwoods, bogs, and bay areas.
The dwarf huckleberry often shares its home with other plants. Some of its neighbors include the eastern red cedar and the tamarack. You might also see it growing near redbay, sweetbay, and flowering dogwood. Other plant friends are the dangleberry, yaupon, fetterbush, and various types of blueberry plants.
What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this plant is Gaylussacia dumosa. The word 'dumosa' comes from Latin. It means "bushy" or "shrubby." This name perfectly describes how the dwarf huckleberry grows!
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
