View source for Gaylussacia baccata

{{Short description|Berry and plant}}
{{italic title}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Black huckleberry
|image = Black-huckleberry-Acadia.jpg
|genus = Gaylussacia
|species = baccata
|authority = ([[Wangenh.]]) [[K. Koch]] 1872
|synonyms_ref = <ref>{{ThePlantList |id=kew-2818325 |taxon=Gaylussacia baccata}}</ref>
|synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true
|''Andromeda baccata'' <small>Wangenh. 1787</small>
|''Decachaena baccata'' <small>(Wangenh.) Small</small>
|''Adnaria resinosa'' <small>(Torr. & A.Gray) Kuntze</small> 
|''Decamerium resinosum'' <small>Nutt.</small>
|''Gaylussacia resinosa'' <small>(Aiton) Torr. & A.Gray</small> 
|''Vaccinium glabrum'' <small>P.Watson</small> 
|''Vaccinium parviflorum'' <small>Andrews</small> 
|''Vaccinium resinosum'' <small>Aiton</small>
}}}}

'''''Gaylussacia baccata''''', the '''black huckleberry''', is a common [[huckleberry]] found throughout a wide area of eastern [[North America]].

==Distribution==
The plant is native to [[Eastern Canada]] and the [[Great Lakes region]], the Midwestern and [[Northeastern United States]], and the [[Appalachian Mountains]], the [[Ohio Valley|Ohio]]/[[Mississippi Valley|Mississippi]]/[[Tennessee Valley]], and [[Southeastern United States]]. The range extends from [[Newfoundland]] west to [[Manitoba]] and [[Minnesota]], south as far as [[Arkansas]], [[Alabama]], and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref>{{BONAP|ref |genus=Gaylussacia |species=baccata |state=1}}</ref>

==Description==
''Gaylussacia baccata'' closely resembles the native [[blueberry]] plants (''[[Vaccinium]]'' species) with which it grows in the same [[habitat]]s. However, it can be readily identified by the numerous resin dots on the undersides of the leaves which glitter when held up to the light.  ''Gaylussacia baccata'' is a shrub up to 150&nbsp;cm (5 feet) tall, forming extensive colonies. Flowers are in dangling groups of 3–7, orange or red, bell-shaped. Berries are dark blue, almost black, rarely white.<ref>{{eFloras|1|242416580|Gaylussacia baccata |family=Ericaceae |first1=Bruce A. |last1=Sorrie |first2=Alan S. |last2=Weakley |first3=Gordon C. |last3=Tucker}}</ref>

Berries are sweet and tasty. People and animals eat them raw, jellied, or baked into pancakes, muffins, and many other items.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gibbons |first=Euell |date=1962 |title=Stalking the Wild Asparagus |publisher=[[David McKay Publications|David McKay]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-911469-03-5 |oclc=16227916 |pages=xiii+303}}</ref>{{rp|39}}

==Ecology==
The shrub is considered fire-resistant due to surviving rhizomes quickly sending out new shoots following fires.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Matlack |first=Glenn R. |date=1997 |title=Resource Allocation among Clonal Shoots of the Fire-Tolerant Shrub Gaylussacia baccata |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3546624 |journal=Oikos |volume=80 |issue=3 |pages=509–518 |doi=10.2307/3546624 |issn=0030-1299}}</ref>

It is a larval host to the [[brown elfin]], [[Gordian sphinx]], [[Henry's elfin]], and [[huckleberry sphinx]].<ref>The Xerces Society (2016), ''Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects'', Timber Press.</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Vaccinium membranaceum]]'' — with "black huckleberry" as common name also.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100174341 Photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Maryland in 1966]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5528871}}

[[Category:Gaylussacia|baccata]]
[[Category:Berries]]
[[Category:Flora of Northern America]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1787]]
[[Category:Edible plants]]


{{Ericaceae-stub}}