The Biological Flora of Canada. 1. Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., Sweet Lowbush Blueberry

This contribution on Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., Sweet Lowbush Blueberry (Ericaceae), is the first of a series presenting biological information on plants that are components of the flora of Canada. Vaccinium angustifolium is a deciduous low shrub endemic to North America, whose range in Canada extends from the east coast of Newfoundland to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. It occurs from Quebec 57N to Virginia 38N. To produce fruit the flowers usually require cross-pollination by wild bees or related insects. The fruit of V. angustifolium is edible and matures during late summer. During the past 30 yr inthe Atlantic Provinces of Canada many fields abandoned from other forms of agriculture have been brought into stands of this species by burn-pruning and selective weed control.