Vaccinium constablei A. Gray. Common name: Blue Ridge Blueberry. Phenology: May-Jun; Jul-Sep. Habitat: Grassy balds, heath balds, high elevation forests and woodlands. Distribution: Higher mountains of the Southern Blue Ridge, from sw. VA to n. GA.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: This hexaploid taxon occurs primarily in the Mountains at moderate to high elevations (the type collection is from the Fodderstacks, Macon County, NC); it differs from the diploid V. pallidum in forming tighter (often circular) clones, with taller plants (to 1 m tall), the leaves thick in texture, often revolute, strictly glaucous and glabrous, and with excellent berries.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Fritsch et al (2024), Sorrie et al (2024) in Weakley et al (2024a); = Vaccinium altomontanum Ashe — Va, misapplied; = Vaccinium alto-montanum — G, Camp (1945), misapplied; orthographic variant; > Cyanococcus liparis Small — S, as to type; > Cyanococcus subcordatus Small — S; < Vaccinium corymbosum L. — RAB; < Vaccinium pallidum Aiton — C, FNA8, K4, Tn, Redpath et al (2022). Basionym: Vaccinium constablaei A.Gray 1842

Links to other floras: < Vaccinium pallidum - FNA8

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 6