Bailey & Bailey: Woody Plants of National Parks 



203 



stems; berries globose, about ^ to 1/3 inch in daimeter, dark blue with 

 a bloom. 



This is common as an understory shrub in the lower forests of the North- 

 west, often in association with red whortleberry. The foliage is browsed to 

 some extent and the fruits are relished by birds and small mammals. The 

 berries are gathered in considerable quantities by local residents and used for 

 canning. The rather strong acid flavor makes them especially good for jelly. 



Occurrence. — OLYMPIC, abundant, up to about 4,000 feet: Holi River near Olympus 

 Guard Station; Elk Lake; Elwha River; Deer Lake; northeast side of Anderson 

 Pass. MOUNT RAINIER, abundant, 2,000 to 4,500 feet: top of Naiada Falls; Nisqually 

 Valley; Carbon River near ranger cabin; Ohanapecosh Hot Springs. 



A form with leaves more pointed, 

 sometimes few-toothed, and the ber- 

 ries purple-black, sometimes without 

 a bloom, is found in Olympic Na- 

 tional Park. It answers the descrip- 

 tion of Vacctnmm oblatum Henry 

 which has been recorded from Van- 

 couver, British Columbia. 



15. Big Whortleberry {Vac- 

 cinium membranaceiwi Dougl.), fig. 

 122. — Bushy shrub 2 to 6 feet high 

 with ascending branches; leaves re- 

 verse-egg-shaped, mostly pointed at 

 the tips, 1 to 2 inches long, the mar- 

 gins finely toothed, green on both 

 sides; flowers globe-shaped, greenish- 

 white or pinkish; berries flattened- 

 globose, large, sometimes ^^ inch in 

 diameter, dark wine-red to purple- 

 black, shiny, mostly without a bloom, 

 the calyx forming a conspicuous 

 flange at the top. The sweet juicy 

 berries are delicious in pies or when 

 eaten fresh with sugar and cream. In 

 places where the bushes are abundant 



the berries are gathered by local residents for the market. It is said that 

 for this fruit the Klamath Indians used to make an annual pilgrimage to 

 Huckleberry Mountain southwest of Crater Lake.^3 y^g foliage is browsed 

 by deer to a certain extent. (Syn. V. macro phyllum Piper.) 



Occurrence. — OLYMPIC, common, 3,200 to 5,000 feet: Mount Angeles; North Fork 

 Quinault River trail below Low Divide; Low Divide below Mount Seattle; Olympic 

 Hot Springs; Boulder Creek; near shelter north of Anderson Pass. MOUNT RAINIER, 

 common, 4,000 to 5,500 feet: head of Stevens Canyon; Ipsut Pass near Mowich Lake. 



43 Coville, F. v.. The August vegetation of Mount Mazama: Mazama vol. 1, no. 



2, p. 196. 1897. 



Fig. 122. Big whortleberry {yaccimum 

 membranaceum) . 



