Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton. Cranberry, Large Cranberry. Phen: May-Jul; Aug-Nov. Hab: Bogs (southwards mainly at medium to high elevations), low pocosins with deep peat, interdunal swales. Dist: Unlike the circumboreal V. oxycoccus Linnaeus, V. macrocarpon is limited to North America. It ranges as a native plant from NL (Newfoundland) west and south to s. ON, MN, ne. IL, n. IN, n. and c. OH, PA, and NJ, extending south along the Appalachians as a disjunct rarity through WV, w. VA, and ne. and se. TN to w. NC, and south along the outer Coastal Plain as a disjunct rarity in e. MD, se. VA, and ne. and se. NC. The occurrence in the inner Coastal Plain (fall-line sandhills) along the Little River in Cumberland County, NC is questionably native.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Other Comments: This is the familiar edible cranberry, raised commercially in artificial bogs, primarily in MA, WI, and NJ.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA8, G, GW2, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Luteyn et al (1996), Smith et al (2015), Uttal (1987), Vander Kloet (1988); = Oxycoccus macrocarpon – Il; = Oxycoccus macrocarpus (Aiton) Pers. – S
Links to other floras: = Vaccinium macrocarpon - FNA8
Wetland Indicator Status:
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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