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Old 15-10-2003, 02:42 PM
Leon Fisk
 
Posts: n/a
Default Tree/bush with blue berries - what is it?

Xref: kermit rec.gardens:252942

On Tue, 7 Oct 2003 15:30:10 -0400, "Neil"
wrote:

There's a picture at


http://www.panix.com/~nradisch/blueberries.jpg


On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 16:56:41 -0400, "Neil"
wrote:

Ok, here's a closeup

http://www.panix.com/~nradisch/blueberries2.jpg


On 13 Oct 2003 22:29:13 GMT, (Marley1372)
wrote:

Its definitley a viburnum, probably Viburnum lentago. Definitley not a
buckthorn because the berries are way too blue.


Hi Toad,

Try comparing what you suggested (viburnum lentago) to this
link:

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrol...s/vlentago.htm

It doesn't look the same to me...

The best I've been able to come up with is Ovalleaf
Huckleberry or Bilbery (vaccinium ovalifolium). See:

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrol...valifolium.htm

http://www.esveld.nl/htmldiaen/v/vaoval.htm

I suspect that it is some type of vaccinium. From what I
could find out most of the blueberries grown as commercial
crops came from the vaccinium varieties.

Looking inside the drupe for seeds and counting them (if
there are any) could be helpful in identifying. How tall
this speciman is and diameter of the trunk would be useful
too. It is hard to tell from the images.

Another possibility (already suggested?) are the
Huckleberry's from gaylussacia. Possibly gaylussacia
baccata. The leaves look to be too big for this though. See:

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrol...aylussacia.htm

http://www.bbg.org/sci/nymf/encyclop...i/gay0010b.htm

The oval leaf shape in the images that Neil provided and the
apparent size (too big for most suggestions?) ruins many
suggested identities...

I have quite a few good shrub/tree books and this doesn't
seem to be in any of them. Maybe Neil can provide a little
history/background. Was this tree planted or did it occur
naturally. Any guess on how old it might be? That could be
useful in eliminating named species of recent origin. I
haven't given up, but I have pretty much exhausted my
current resources...

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
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