Creeping Snowberry

The fruits of creeping snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula ) taste like the wintergreen flavored fruits of its close relative teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens) , which was featured in yesterday's tidbit. Creeping snowberry is rare in northern Pennsylvania, where it is near the southern limit of its range (although it also occurs at high elevations in Maryland and West Virginia). It grows on mossy hummocks and rotting logs in cold, acidic wetlands, such as hemlock swamps.

In Pennsylvania, creeping snowberry is listed as a state rare plant species due to the low number of places it grows, and the specialized nature of its wetland habitat.

Today's photo was taken by WPC Natural Heritage Program staff at Marion Brooks State Forest Natural Area, Elk County, PA.

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