Early Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium pallidum Aiton    Synonyms: Blue Ridge Blueberry, Cyanococcus liparis, Cyanococcus pallidus, Cyanococcus subcordatus, Cyanococcus tallapusae, Cyanococcus vacillans, Hillside Blueberry, Vaccinium altomontanum, Vaccinium vacillans.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Ericales   >   Family Ericaceae   >   Genus Vaccinium   

Status:

Found throughout Maryland. This is the only "low bush" blueberry on the Eastern Shore and the dominant "low bush" blueberry of the Fall Line and piedmont.

Description:

Early Lowbush Blueberry can be differentiated from huckleberries by the lack of resinous dots on the leaves. Early Lowbush Blueberry can be separated from the similar Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) by looking at leaf coloration and structure. The leaves of Vaccinium angustifolium are bright and shiny on the undersides while the leaves of Vaccinium pallidum are dull green to whitish and not shiny. The leaf edge of Vaccinium angustifolium is more evenly serrated than the leaf edge of Vaccinium pallidum which can be entire or unevenly serrated. The leaves of Vaccinium pallidum are also typically wider and can be more rounded than the leaves of Vaccinium angustifolium.

Relationships:

Host plant to various moth species including Dichomeris vacciniella, Fall Cankerworm Moth, Mottles Gray Carpet Moth, Sweetfern Geometer Moth, Begger Moth, Sulphur Moth, Canadian Melanolophia Moth, Large Lace-bordered Moth, Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth, Yellow-based Tussock Moth, Streaked Tussock Moth, Distinct Quaker Moth, Yellow-haired Dagger Moth, Triton Dagger Moth, Copper Underwing Moth, Graceful Underwing Moth, Formosa Looper Moth, American Dun-bar Moth, Alternate Woodling Moth, Sidus Sallow Moth, Intractable Quaker Moth, Ashen Pinion Moth, Bicolored Woodgrain Moth, Garman's Quaker Moth, Ruby Quaker Moth, Decorated Owlet Moth, Red-winged Sallow Moth, Slender Clearwing, Huckleberry Sphinx, Blueberry Leaftier Moth, Stain-backed Leafroller Moth, Fruit-tree Leafroller Moth, Oblique-banded Leafroller Moth, Serviceberry Leafroller Moth, Lacuna Moth, Raspberry Leafroller Moth, and Three-lined Leafroller Moth (Database of World's Lepidopteran Host Plants).

There are 153 records in the project database.

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Early Lowbush Blueberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/22/2015). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

An Early Lowbush Blueberry in Prince Georges Co., Maryland (4/27/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/25/2019). Photo by Matt Grey. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/20/2020). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/20/2020). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Somerset Co., Maryland (6/24/2014). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry blooming in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/8/2011). Photo by Boyer and McDowell. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/24/2018). Photo by Matt Grey. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/24/2018). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/7/2016). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/27/2017). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Underside of a spring Early Lowbush Blueberry leaf in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (4/27/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry flowers in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (4/27/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/29/2013). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Early Lowbush Blueberry in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/24/2017). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)


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