Description

General - low, spreading shrub; young branchlets downy; twigs hairless; inner bark of older stems is yellow.

Leaves - alternate; fine-toothed, elliptic, 4-10 cm long, acute, wedge-shaped at base, unequally crenate-serrate, smooth or slightly hairy on the veins beneath, with 6 to 8 pairs of veins; petioles 5-2 mm long.

Flowers - in small clusters from the angles of the lower leaves; individual flowers small, 3 mm across, with 5 yellowish-green, petal-like sepals; appearing in late May and early June.

Fruit - small, red to black, fleshy berries, with 2-4 seeds; ripening in August and September

Habitat

Throughout NW Ontario's boreal region; forest edges, thickets; also along stream banks and shorelines.

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