Gaylussacia frondosa (L.)Torr. & A.Gray

BLUE HUCKLEBERRY

**

Three entities can be recognized in the G. frondosa complex: G. frondosa s.str. (twigs glabrous to sparsely pubescent, leaf blades abaxially glabrous to sparsely pubescent, hairs 0.27-0.39 mm long, not glaucous to moderately glaucous, with golden yellow glands), G. nana (twigs pubescent, leaf blades abaxially glabrous to sparsely pubescent, hairs 0.13-0.26 mm long, usually strongly glaucous, with wide red glands), and G. tomentosa (twigs pubescent, leaf blades abaxially sparsely to densely pubescent, hairs 0.46-0.64 mm long, not glaucous, with golden yellow glands) (Godfrey 1988; Luteyn et al. 1996; Gajdeczka et al. 2010; Weakley et al. 2017). Monophyly of G. nana based on 40 ITS sequences of the G. frondosa complex was supported by 56% bootstrap support and a SNP (Gajdeczka et al. 2010). Six hybrids between G. nana and G. tomentosa and one hybrid of G. frondosa s.str. and G. nana were also supported by ITS sequences and morphology (Gajdeczka et al. 2010). Gaylussacia nana and G. tomentosa are generally sympatric in Florida, while G. frondosa s.str. is reported from the panhandle (e.g. R.R. Smith 1563 [FLAS], Orzell & Bridges 13034 [USF]).

Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP)

**