Grouse whortleberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grouse whortleberry |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vaccinium
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| Species: |
scoparium
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The grouse whortleberry (scientific name: Vaccinium scoparium) is a type of huckleberry. It's also known as grouseberry or littleleaf huckleberry. This small plant is found in the western parts of North America.
You can find it growing in mountain areas like the Rockies and Cascades. It stretches from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada down to California, Colorado, and New Mexico in the United States. It even grows as far east as South Dakota. This plant loves high places, from about 700 to 3000 meters (2,333 to 10,000 feet) high. It's very common in the forests of the Rocky Mountains, often growing under taller trees.
Contents
What Does the Grouseberry Look Like?
The grouseberry is a short, bushy shrub. It usually grows less than half a meter (20 inches) tall. This plant spreads out using underground stems called rhizomes. These stems can root and grow new plants when they touch moist ground.
Its branches look a bit like brooms when they are new and green. The leaves fall off each year (they are deciduous). They are arranged one after another along the stem. Each oval leaf is small, about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) long, and has tiny teeth along its edges.
Flowers and Fruit
The plant has small, pink flowers that grow alone where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower is shaped like a tiny urn and is about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long.
After the flowers, bright red berries grow. These berries are soft and round, up to 6 millimeters wide. They have a tart, slightly sour taste.
How is the Grouseberry Used?
This plant is important for many animals and people.
Food for Wildlife
The grouseberry provides food for many different animals. Large animals like elk, mule deer, and bears eat its leaves and berries. Smaller animals also enjoy it, including squirrels, foxes, skunks, and many kinds of birds.
Edible Berries for People
The berries are safe to eat and were a food source for many Native American groups. Tribes like the Kootenay, Okanogan, and Shuswap collected and ate them.
Because the berries are small, gathering a lot of them can be tricky. Native people often used special combs made of wood or fishbones to help harvest them more easily.
