Gaylussacia brachycera

(Michaux) A. Gray

Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s. 3: 54. 1846 ,.

Common names: Box huckleberry
Endemic
Basionym: Vaccinium brachycerum Michaux Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 234. 1803
Synonyms: Buxella brachycera (Michaux) Small
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 532. Mentioned on page 530, 531.

Plants 2–4 dm, forming small to extensive colonies; branches spreading or procumbent; twigs of current season pale green to grayish brown, (strongly angled), puberulent. Leaves persistent; petiole 0.5–3 mm; blade pale green abaxially, shiny dark green adaxially, ovate, 1–2.5 × 0.5–1.3 cm, coriaceous, base rounded, margins crenate or serrulate, (revolute), apex obtuse, without resinous dots, surfaces glabrous adaxially, glabrous or puberulent along midvein and near blade base. Inflorescences spreading, 2–5-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary, ebracteate, 0.5–1 cm, puberulent. Pedicels 0.5–3 mm, glabrous; bracteoles (early deciduous), 1–3, (ovate), 2–4 mm, (margins ciliate). Flowers: sepals 4–5, 0.3–0.5 mm, glabrous; petals 4–5, corolla white to pink, campanulate-urceolate, 4 mm, lobes broadly deltate to rounded, 0.5–1.5 mm; filaments 1–1.5 mm, glabrous; anthers included, 1–1.5 mm, thecae not divergent distally; ovary glabrous. Drupes juicy, sweet, light blue, 6–8 mm diam., glabrous. Seeds 1–1.5 mm.


Phenology: Flowering late spring–early summer.
Habitat: Upland or montane woods
Elevation: (10-)200-1000 m

Distribution

V8 1036-distribution-map.gif

Del., Ky., Md., N.C., Pa., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Gaylussacia brachycera is a dwarf evergreen shrub that forms large, solid-mat, self-sterile colonies, each one appearing to consist of a single clone that may extend over more than one hectare. One colony in Perry County, Pennsylvania, is about 1.5 kilometers wide; it appears to be a single clone that is over 12,000 years old and has been labeled as the oldest living thing in the world.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Gaylussacia brachycera"
Bruce A. Sorrie +, Alan S. Weakley +  and Gordon C. Tucker +
(Michaux) A. Gray +
Vaccinium brachycerum +
Box huckleberry +
Del. +, Ky. +, Md. +, N.C. +, Pa. +, Tenn. +, Va. +  and W.Va. +
(10-)200-1000 m +
Upland or montane woods +
Flowering late spring–early summer. +
Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s. +
pooler2008a +  and wilbur2004a +
Buxella brachycera +
Gaylussacia brachycera +
Gaylussacia +
species +