IDENTIFICATION OF BLUEBERRY VARIETIES 



13 



Figure 12. Leaf Margins. 

 Left: RUBEL — slightly reflexed Right: BURLINGTON — strongly reflexed 



margin can often be more easily sensed by touch than b\' sight. If the forefinger is 

 run along the edge of the leaf from the apex toward the base, the serrulations 

 can be felt. Similarly, if a leaf is taken between the thumb and forefinger, with 

 the upper surface of the leaf tow'ard the thumb, and drawn from between them, 

 a reflexed margin can be felt easily. 



Leaf thicktiess, although not so easy to define and use as some characters, is 

 sorhetimes helpful. The leaves of June are considered thick; those of Jersey 

 medium to thick. Dunfee and Stanley have thin leaves while five varieties in- 

 cluding Concord have leaves medium to thin. Most \'arieties, like Pioneer, have 

 leaves of medium thickness. 



Shoot pubescence is another useful character. Some varieties, such as Rubel, 

 have no pubescence on the shoot; that is, are glabrous; others, such as Rancocas, 

 have light pubescence; while still others, such as Grover, have heavy pubescence 

 (Figure 13). 



Shoot bark color is a great help in distinguishing varieties if the plants can be 

 seen in winter. Some varieties ha\'e green bark as Adams; some have yellowish 

 bark as Jersey; while some have bright reddish brown bark as Pioneer, and others 

 dull reddish brown bark as Rubel. 



