names include big, high (bush), large, and thinleaf huckleberry, 

 bilberry, or blueberry. Although this and other species of Vac- 

 cinium which belong to the blueberry family (Vacciniaceae) are 

 commonly referred to in the West as huckleberries, that name is 

 preferably restricted to the genus Gaylussacia, and blueberry to the 

 blue-fruited members of the genus Vaccmiwm. The specific name of 

 this species refers to its thin (membranaceous) leaves. Big whortle- 

 berry, although not found in the humid coastal country of Washing- 

 ton and Oregon, is very abundant in the more arid regions farther 

 east at elevations of from 2,500 to 7,000 feet. It grows on all slopes, 

 although probably most commonly on northern exposures, and in 

 both wet and dry sites, especially in sandy or gravelly loams, both 

 in the open and in the dense shade of white fir, hemlock, and other 

 coniferous trees. This species often forms the dominant under- 

 growth in coniferous woods over extensive areas and is one of the 

 chief shrubs in old burns, frequently being associated with such 

 woody plants as honeysuckles (Lomcera spp. j, mountain-ashes (Sor- 

 bus spp.), serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.), snowbrush (Ceano- 

 thus velutinws], thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) , and roses (Rosa 

 spp.). The flowers usually appear from about the middle of May 

 to June, occasionally lasting into July. 1 The sizable, agreeably 

 flavored, sweetish berries, red at first but black when mature, begin 

 to ripen about the middle of July to the middle of August, the major 

 portion of the fruit crop being produced before September 20. 1 



Big whortleberry is practically worthless to poor browse for cattle 

 and horses. Its palatability varies from poor to about fair on the 

 average for sheep, although under some conditions it may be fairly 

 good or even good. It is generally utilized more extensively on 

 ranges where it occurs in mixture with palatable weeds and grasses. 

 The maximum palatability periods of this species vary measurably ; 

 but generally it is used most extensively either early or late in the 

 season, when the sheep are entering or leaving the range. Big 

 whortleberry is chiefly important as browse in eastern Oregon, east- 

 ern Washington, and the Snake River Valley of Idaho, where it 

 rates as fair to fairly good sheep feed. It is also an important 

 game feed, especially on the winter elk ranges of those States. 

 Although this shrub loses its leaves in the fall, elk crop the twigs 

 on the winter range, and at times utilize the plant so closely, espe- 

 cially when other forage is scarce, that the bushes may be destroyed. 



The fruits of big whortleberry are picked extensively for local 

 consumption, and are even marketed on some scale. Customarily, 

 the Klamath Indians of Oregon cross the Cascade Mountains about 

 the third week in August for a several weeks' picnic and to gather 

 and dry their winter's supply of these berries. 2 The shrubs grow- 

 ing in burns are the most prolific fruit producers and, due to this 

 fact, the plant has been the innocent cause of numerous man-made 

 forest fires. The berries, an important food of birds and rodents, 

 are also highly relished by bears. 



1 Dayton, W. A. IMPORTANT WESTERN BROWSE PLANTS. U. S. Dept. Agr. Misc. Pub. 

 101, 214 pp., illus. 1931. 



2 Coville, F. V. NOTES ON THE PLANTS USED BY THE KLAMATH INDIANS OF OREGON. 

 U. S. Dept Agr., Div. Bot., Contrib. U. S. Natl. Herbarium 5 : 87-108. 1897. 



