L.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.153122
Element CodePDERI180R0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyEricaceae
GenusVaccinium
SynonymsOxycoccus oxycoccos(L.) MacM.Oxycoccus palustrisPers.
Other Common NamesCanneberge commune (FR) small cranberry (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsIf placed in the segregate genus Oxycoccos, these plants are called Oxycoccus oxycoccos, a permissible near-tautonym (see Voss, Michigan Flora, vol. 3). Synonyms include Oxycoccus palustris, and (incorrectly) O. quadripetalus.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-11-05
Change Date1984-09-06
Edition Date2024-11-05
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsVaccinium oxycoccos is a widespread perennial shrub or subshrub occurring in bogs fens, muskegs, arctic, and alpine tundra of North America, Greenland, St. Pierre and Miquelon, northern Europe, and northern Asia. There are over 2,000 occurrences of this species, which are threatened by rights-of-way maintenance, pollution and eutrophication, lack of fire leading to succession, development, and likely other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Vaccinium oxycoccos is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsVaccinium oxycoccos is a widespread circumboreal species, occurring in North America, Greenland, St. Pierre and Miquelon, northern Europe, and northern Asia (FNA 2009). In North America, it occurs throughout Canada and Alaska and Maine south to Maryland, west to Illinois and Minnesota, and in the western United States. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be over 2,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsThreats to Vaccinium oxycoccos are not widely documented, but include rights-of-way maintenance, pollution and eutrophication, lack of fire leading to succession, development, and likely other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (NatureServe 2024).