introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

Creeping Snowberry(Gaultheria hispidula)What It Looks Like:This member of the heath family (Ericaceae) hastrailing stems that can be mat-forming. It smellsof wintergreen when crushed.Pennsylvania Distributionby county & CEC ecoregionWestern Pennsylvania Conservancy 2003Where It Is Found:Leaves: dark green and oval, ~1/2” long, andhave no teeth at the edges. Unlike cranberryplants, which the snowberry resemblessomewhat, the leaves lie flat on the ground.Flowers: small, white, five petals.Fruits: white berries, ~1/2 in diameter, ripeningin late summer.Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program Data 2004The creeping snowberry is a typical plant of northern boreal forests. Pennsylvania isnear the southern limit of its range; the locations where it is found in the state aresphagnous wetlands and wet coniferous forests with a northern character to the climateand flora. It may be found on raised hummocks and old hemlock stumps.Why It Is Rare:Pennsylvania is near the southern limit of its range, and the climatic conditions appearto be unsuitable except in a few habitat areas of a more northern character.Western Pennsylvania ConservancyConservation Considerations:The creeping snowberry is likely to be sensitive to changes in temperature or water regime at the sites it inhabits. Therefore, anymodifications at a site which reduce the tree canopy or alter the natural hydrologic pattern may detrimentally impact a population.Global DistributionNorthern regions of North America. Pennsylvania is nearsouthern limit of range.Conservation Status Ranks(Natureserve)NatureServe. 2003. NatureServe Explorer:An online encyclopedia of life [web application].Version 1.8. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.http://www.natureserve.org/explorerG5: apparently secure globally; much more abundant northwardS3: Vulnerable in the state either because rare and uncommon, or found only in a restricted range (even if abundant at some locations),or because of other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation. 7272