Vaccinium cylindraceum

Vaccinium cylindraceum, known by its common names such as Azores blueberry, (Portuguese: uva-da-serra, uva-do-mato) is a semi-deciduous species of Vaccinium endemic to the Azores.[3] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as an ornamental.[4]

Vaccinium cylindraceum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Vaccinium
Species:
V. cylindraceum
Binomial name
Vaccinium cylindraceum
Synonyms[3]

Vaccinium longiflorum Wikstr.

Description

edit

This shrub can reach up to 3 meters in height. It is also a hermaphrodite. The serrated leaves are elongated and have sharp tips. Initially red, the apical shoots may have a bright red colour. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, with a pinkish white colour, and usually occur in clusters. In autumn the leaves may change to a reddish-yellow. The black fruit is a pseudo-berry, and are said to be juicy and fleshy.[5][6] Cytology is 2n = 48.[7]

Distribution and habitat

edit

This plant can be found at all of the islands in Azores, apart from Graciosa.[8]

This species can be found at elevations between 380 - 1,400m.[9]

Cultivation

edit

The Azores blueberry flowers between May and June.[8] It should be grown in acidic, loam, well-drained soil. It can be grown in light-shade or no shade.[6][10]

It can be propagated by seed or by cuttings.[10]

References

edit
  1. ^ "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vaccinium cylindraceum". 12 October 2016.
  2. ^ A.Rees, Cycl. 36: n.º 23 (1817)
  3. ^ a b "Vaccinium cylindraceum Sm". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Vaccinium cylindraceum Azores blueberry". The Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Uva-da-serra". drrf-sraa.azores.gov.pt. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  6. ^ a b "Vaccinium cylindraceum PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  7. ^ Redpath, Lauren E.; Aryal, Rishi; Lynch, Nathan; Spencer, Jessica A.; Hulse-Kemp, Amanda M.; Ballington, James R.; Green, Jaimie; Bassil, Nahla; Hummer, Kim; Ranney, Thomas; Ashrafi, Hamid (2022). "Nuclear DNA contents and ploidy levels of North American Vaccinium species and interspecific hybrids". Scientia Horticulturae. 297. Elsevier BV: 110955. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2022.110955. ISSN 0304-4238.
  8. ^ a b "Vaccinium cylindraceum". Flora-On. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  9. ^ Bgci), Emily Beech (IUCN SSC Global Tree SG /; Luís Silva (Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores) (2016-10-12). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vaccinium cylindraceum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  10. ^ a b Shoot. "Vaccinium cylindraceum Azores blueberry Care Plant Varieties & Pruning Advice". www.shootgardening.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-11-04.