Black Huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata (Wangenheim) K. Koch    Synonyms: Decachaena baccata.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Ericales   >   Family Ericaceae   >   Genus Gaylussacia   

Status:

Black Huckleberry occurs throughout eastern North America. It is common across Maryland.

Description:

This low-growing shrub is often colonial and rhizomatous. It is easily identified from other blueberries and huckleberries by having resinous dots on both sides of the leaves. Leaf margins are entire and ciliate. The twigs are slender and pinkish red. Leaf buds are small and reddish. Flower buds are larger than leaf buds and are sprinkled with resin globules. The flowers are more slender than those of blueberries and more reddish. Bloom time is May-June. Fruits are black and shiny, not glaucous. Foliage turns red in autumn.

Where to find:

Dry forests.

Relationships:

Host plant for various moth species including Wavy-lined Emerald Moth, Coleophora gaylussaciella, Chain-dotted Geometer, Evergreen Bagworm Moth, Huckleberry Sphinx, Blueberry Leaftier Moth, Ancylis apicana, and Olethreutes baccatana (Database of World's Lepidopteran Host Plants).

There are 159 records in the project database.

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Black Huckleberry found during the Chino Farms BioBlitz (4/27/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/3/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/11/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/30/2019). Photo by Matt Grey. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in fruit in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/7/2018). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry blooming in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/16/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Blooming Black Huckleberry in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/5/1981). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry fruiting in Charles Co., Maryland (5/24/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/9/2012). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry blooming in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/29/2013). Photo by Boyer and McDowell. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in fruit in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/5/2019). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/12/2012). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in fruit in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/21/2018). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/31/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (6/30/2018). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/1/2017). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in bloom near Quincy, Massachusetts (5/13/2012). Photo by Tom Palmer. (MBP list)

A Black Huckleberry near Chatsworth, New Jersey (10/27/2012). Photo by John Beetham. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/29/2019). (c) laurabankey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by laurabankey via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Charles Co., Maryland (4/15/2020). (c) Carrie Seltzer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Carrie Seltzer via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Black Huckleberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/28/2018). Photo by Matt Grey. (MBP list)


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