Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bearberry

Leaf Top

Centre Block, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
28-June-2008

Note that the leaf is entire.

Note that the key to the genera in Flora of Alberta requires that the flowers are NOT white, in terminal clusters.  In fact, the the flowers are white to pink and are in terminal clusters.  The rest of the answers to the keys are listed below.

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Uva-ursi: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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branchlets puberulent or pubescent; NOT [branchlets glabrous]

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leaves evergreen; NOT [leaves deciduous or marcescent]

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leaves leathery; NOT [leaves thin]

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leaves 1-3 cm long; NOT [leaves 2-5 cm long]

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leaves entire; NOT [leaves crenate-serrate or serrulate]

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leaves NOT conspicuously veiny, leaves NOT strongly reticulate below

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drupe dry and mealy; NOT [drupe juicy]

 

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Arctostaphylos: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.
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stems prostrate to decumbent or creeping; NOT [stems erect]

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branches and leaves NOT scaly

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branches and leaves NOT scurfy

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leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

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leaves leathery

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leaves usually less than 2 cm long; NOT [leaves 2-6 cm long]

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leaves elliptic or obovate

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leaves NOT rusty-tomentose beneath

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leaves NOT resinous-dotted beneath

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flowers terminal; NOT [flowers axillary]

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flowers in clusters; NOT [flowers solitary]

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flowers smaller than 1-2 cm across

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calyx NOT [accrescent and fleshy in fruit]

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petals more or less united; NOT [petals free]

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ovary superior; NOT [ovary inferior]

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fruit fleshy; NOT [fruit a dry capsule]

 

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Ericaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. 
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shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]

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leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite or whorled]

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flowers NOT in heads

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flowers with two floral rings, but with the petals wholly or partly united forming a tube or bell

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ovary superior; NOT [ovary inferior]

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fruit many-seeded; NOT [fruit 1-seeded]