Precious few wild blueberries

Vaccinium myrtillus, May 30, 2021

Vaccinium myrtillus, May 30, 2021

Common & scientific name
Bilberry or Wild blueberry, Vaccinium myrtillus

Family
Heath, Ericaceae

Location
Forest/riverside, 8,800’

Fun/weird/little known fact
This wild blueberry is the most common of our three Vaccinium species below treeline.  It also produces less flowers (the sweet little whitish-pink bells shown here), therefore less huckleberries, as they’re often called.  Later in the summer if you can find some, though, they are delicious!

V. myrtillus in fruit, August 6, 2021

V. myrtillus in fruit, August 6, 2021