Description

Shrubs.  Stems 1--10, 1--3 m, single-stemmed or in small clumps; twigs glabrous at flowering.  Leaves conduplicate in bud; expanding or fully expanded and unfolded, green, glabrous or sparsely pilose abaxially by flowering; petioles 5--15 mm; blades abaxially pale green, suborbiculate to oval, 1--5 x 1--2 cm, somewhat coriaceous, bases cordate to truncate (somewhat cuneate), margins entire proximally, dentate in distal 1/2 with 3--5 teeth per cm, lateral veins 7--9 pairs, remaining distinct to the margin and not anastomosing, apices rounded or subtruncate, surfaces glabrous.  Inflorescences 4--8-flowered, erect or ascending, 2--4 cm, only proximalmost pedicel subtended by leaf.  Pedicels glabrous, proximalmost 0.6--1.2 cm.  Flowers: hypanthia campanulate, 3--4 mm diam.; sepals recurving after flowering, 3 mm, glabrous adaxially; petals white, oblanceolate, 8--12 x 3--4 mm, not andropetalous; stamens 12--15; styles 4--5; ovary summit rounded, glabrous.  Pomes dark purple, glaucous, 8--9 mm diam., sweet.

Flowering/Fuiting

Flowering May--Jun; fruiting Jul--Sep. 

Habitat

Mountain slopes, plains; 1600--3400 m

Range

Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion