Vaccinium simulatum Small. Mountain Highbush Blueberry. Phen: Late Apr-early Jun; Jul-Aug. Hab: Forested slopes (northern hardwoods, spruce-fir forests), ridges, and shrub balds, at moderate and high elevations. Dist: A Southern and Central Appalachian endemic, V. simulatum ranges from e. KY and sw. VA south through w. NC and e. TN to n. GA and n. AL.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Redpath report diploid (2x=24) and tetraploid (2x=48) ploidy levels for what they interpret as this species. The name V. constablaei has been misapplied to this species, as by RAB; see V. corymbosum for a discussion of the correct application of V. constablaei. There is controversy as to whether V. constablaei and V. simulatum are actually the same taxon. Vaccinium constablei is a hexaploid species, 2x = 72 (Redpath et al. 2022).

Synonymy: = G, K1, K3, K4, Va, Camp (1945), Uttal (1987); = Cyanococcus simulatus (Small) Small – S; > Vaccinium constablaei A.Gray – G, Redpath et al (2022), misapplied, & orthographic variant; > Vaccinium constablei A.Gray; < Vaccinium corymbosum L. – C, FNA8, RAB, Tn, W, Luteyn et al (1996), Vander Kloet (1988); > Vaccinium simulatum Small – Redpath et al (2022)

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
• Midwest: FACU

Heliophily: 5