High-mountain Blueberry

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1 High-mountain Blueberry Vaccinium boreale Scientific Name Family Name Vaccinium boreale Hall & Aalders Ericaceae Heath Family Did you know? It was not until 1961 that high-mountain blueberry was recognized to be a distinct species due to its superficial similarity to the low sweet blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium). Photo credits: Stephen M. Young Summary Protection Threatened in New York State, not listed federally. Rarity G4, S2 This level of state protection means: listed species are those with: 1) 6 to fewer than 20 extant sites, or 2) 1,000 to fewer than 3,000 individuals, or 3) restricted to not less than 4 or more than 7 U.S.G.S. 7 ½ minute topographical maps, or 4) listed as threatened by U.S. Department of Interior. A global rarity rank of G4 means: This species is apparently secure globally (typically with more than 100+ populations), though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. A state rarity rank of S2 means: This plant is threatened/imperiled in New York because of rarity (typically 6-20 populations or few remaining individuals) or is vulnerable to extirpation from New York due to biological factors. Conservation Status in New York There are 16 known populations. One additional population has not been seen since 1948, although more survey work is needed before this population can be determined to be extirpated. All of the populations are restricted to Essex County in the high peaks region of the Adirondacks. There are also a few reports and records from Clinton, Hamilton, Franklin, and Genesee Counties, but these need to be verified. NYNHP Conservation Guide - High-mountain Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale)

2 Short-term Trends At least some populations have been negatively impacted by trampling from hiker traffic in the recent past although data indicating how much has been lost is not available. Other data on short term trends is not clear. Therefore, this species has probably declined at least a little in the short term. Long-term Trends One high peaks population has not been seen since 1948 but more survey work needs to be conducted before it can be determined if this population has become extirpated. There is no clear data on how the extant populations have done in the past years. Conservation and Management Threats Trampling by hiker traffic is known to be a threat at a majority of the populations. Conservation Strategies and Management Practices The Summit Steward program which works to inform hikers of the fragile nature of alpine plants is a critical program which is helping to reduce trampling of alpine vegetation. This program and other efforts designed to reduce trampling of alpine meadows are needed. Research Needs Herbarium and perhaps field work are needed to verify the reports of this species from Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, and Genesee Counties. Additional survey work is needed at the one high peaks population, known from historical records, to determine if that population is still extant. Further survey work in the high peaks region may turn up additional populations. Clear and consistent estimates of population size at extant populations is needed to help determine the trend of this species. Habitat In New York this species grows exclusively in high alpine settings. Mostly it is in open alpine meadows but it can also grow on exposed rock and openings in krummholz at high elevations (New York Natural Heritage Program 2007). Alpine meadows and exposed, rocky sites (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Forest-tundra, alpine meadows, and exposed coastal headlands, occasionally on open rocky uplands of Newfoundland. It is an integral part of the cladina-moss carpet between heath hummocks, from which it emerges 1 or 2 cm. It occurs on exposed headlands with Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Danthonia spicata, or Deschampsia flexuosa or on the windswept hummocks of V. uliginosum, Empetrum nigrum, and Cornus canadensis, or on high moors in Sphagnum cushions. In every case, it is part of the ground-level vegetation rather than part of the shrub layer where V. angustifolium occurs (Vander Kloet 1977). NYNHP Conservation Guide - High-mountain Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) 2

3 Associated Ecological Communities Alpine Krummholz A dwarf woodland dominated by balsam fir that occurs at or near the summits of the high peaks of the Adirondacks. Alpine Meadow A very low-growing community similar in many ways to arctic tundra. Alpine meadows occur above timberline on the higher mountain summits and exposed ridges of the Adirondacks. Dwarf shrublands, small grassy meadows, small boggy depressions, and exposed bedrock with lichens and mosses are all commonly found within this broadly classified community. Associated Species Arctic Bentgrass (Agrostis mertensii) Tundra Dwarf Birch (Betula glandulosa) Bigelow Sedge (Carex bigelowii) Cladina rangiferina Purple Crowberry (Empetrum eamesii ssp. atropurpureum) Black Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum) False Toadflax (Geocaulon lividum) Appalachian Fir-clubmoss (Huperzia appressa) Alpine Azalea (Loiseleuria procumbens) Dwarf Rattlesnakeroot (Prenanthes nana) Lapland Rosebay (Rhododendron lapponicum var. lapponicum) Bearberry Willow (Salix uva-ursi) Alpine Goldenrod (Solidago leiocarpa) Bog Blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) Identification Comments High mountain blueberry is a dwarf low shrub that grows in dense colonies. It grows no more than about 3.5 inches tall. The twigs are covered with small warts and have arched hairs arranged in lines. The bright green leaves are up to about 7/8 of an inch long and a quarter as wide. They are not hairy, and have fine, sharp, gland-tipped teeth along the margins. The cylindrical flowers are white to greenish-white. The fruits are blue, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter, and like those of its close relatives, sweet and tasty (Vander Kloet 1977). Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species This species can usually be distinguished vegetatively from Vaccinium angustifolium but the two are very similar so corolla length is a useful additional character to use. Therefore, it is best to identify this species when it is in flower. NYNHP Conservation Guide - High-mountain Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) 3

4 The Best Time to See This species starts to flower in very early July and blooms throughout most of that month. Therefore, the best time to survey for this species is early to mid-july. Vegetative Flowering Fruiting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Similar Species The time of year you would expect to find High-mountain Blueberry in New York. Vaccinium angustifolium can be very similar and the two can grow together. Vaccinium angustifolium is taller (over 9 cm high), has leaves 6-17 mm wide, corollas 4-6 mm long, and blooms about 2 weeks earlier. In comparison, V. boreale is shorter (rarely getting to 9 cm high), has leaves 2-5 mm wide, and corollas 3-4 mm long. Conservation Comments In 1961 Hall and Aalders (1961) described Vaccinium boreale. They indicated that many morphological characteristics that distinguish V. angustifolium from V. boreale can overlap. Subsequent work by Vander Kloet (1977) helped justify the recognition of this taxon at the species level. Hybridization attempts between Vaccinium angustifolium and V. boreale have failed (Vander Kloet 1977). Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Plantae Anthophyta Class Dicots (Dicotyledoneae) Order Ericales Family Additional Common Names alpine blueberry sweet hurts Ericaceae (Heath Family) NYNHP Conservation Guide - High-mountain Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) 4

5 Synonyms Vaccinium pennsylvanicum var. alpinum (Wood) Vaccinium pennsylvanicum var. angustifolium ((Aiton) Gray) Additional Resources Links USDA Plants Database VACCINIUM+BOREALE NatureServe Explorer Google Images References Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp. Haines, A. and T.F. Vining Flora of Maine, A Manual for Identification of Native and Naturalized Vascular Plants of Maine. V.F.Thomas Co., Bar Harbor, Maine. Hall, I.V. and L.E. Aalders Cytotaxonomy of Lowbush Blueberries in Eastern Canada. American Journal of Botany 48: Holmgren, Noel The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery, and map unit tables. Mitchell, Richard S. and Gordon C. Tucker Revised Checklist of New York State Plants. Contributions to a Flora of New York State. Checklist IV. Bulletin No New York State Museum. Albany, NY. 400 pp. NatureServe NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA New York Natural Heritage Program Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. Reschke, Carol Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Latham, NY. 96 pp. plus xi. Vander Kloet, S. P The taxonomic status of Vaccinium boreale. Can. J. Bot. 55: Weldy, T. and D. Werier New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research University of South Florida New York Flora Association Albany, New York NYNHP Conservation Guide - High-mountain Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) 5

6 New York Natural Heritage Program 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY Phone: (518) NYNHP Conservation Guide - High-mountain Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) 6

7 This project is made possible with funding from: - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program - Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Information for this guide was last updated on Aug 15, 2017 This guide was authored by NYNHP Conservation Guide - High-mountain Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) 7

Dwarf White Birch. Summary. Protection Endangered in New York State, not listed federally.

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