Vaccinium arboreum

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Vaccinium arboreum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Vaccinium
Species:
V. arboreum
Binomial name
Vaccinium arboreum
Synonyms[2]

Vaccinium arboreum (sparkleberry or farkleberry) is a species of Vaccinium native to the southeastern and south-central United States.

Description

Vaccinium arboreum is a shrub (rarely a small tree) growing to 3–5 metres (10–16+1⁄2 ft), rarely 9 m (30 ft) tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 35 centimetres (14 in).[4] The leaves are evergreen in the south of the range, but deciduous further north where winters are colder; they are oval-elliptic with an acute apex, 3–7 cm (1+1⁄4–2+3⁄4 in) long and 2–4 cm broad, with a smooth or very finely toothed margin.

The flowers are white, bell-shaped, and 3–4 millimetres (1⁄8–3⁄16 in) in diameter with a five-lobed corolla, produced in racemes up to 5 cm (2 in) long. The fruit is a round dry berry about 6 mm (1⁄4 in) in diameter, green at first, black when ripe, bitter and tough.[4] Cytology is 2n = 24.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Sparkleberry could be found in the United States from southern Virginia west to southeastern Nebraska, south to Florida and eastern Texas, and north to Illinois.[6][7] It grows in sandy and rocky habitats, including dry woods. It also grows on a variety of moist sites such as wet bottomlands and along creek banks.[4]

Ecology

The berries are eaten by various wildlife.[8]

Uses

Because of its relative hardiness in comparison to other Vaccinium species, V. arboreum has been investigated as a potential rootstock for expanding the range of blueberry cultivation to less acidic soils (pH>6.0) and reducing the severity of bacterial leaf scorch.[9]

References

  1. IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; et al. (BGCI) (2020). "Vaccinium arboreum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T152906341A152906343. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T152906341A152906343.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Tropicos, Vaccinium arboreum Marshall
  3. The Plant List, Vaccinium arboreum var. glaucescens (Greene) Sarg.
  4. Flora of North America, Vaccinium arboreum Marshall, 1785. Farkleberry
  5. 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 110955. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2022.110955. ISSN 0304-4238.
  6. USDA; Native Distribution - V. arboreum . accessed 11.10.2010
  7. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  8. Little, Elbert L. (1980). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Knopf. p. 629. ISBN 0-394-50760-6.
  9. Darnell, Rebecca L.; Williamson, Jeffrey G.; Bayo, Deanna C.; Harmon, Philip F. (2020-01-01). "Impacts of Vaccinium arboreum Rootstocks on Vegetative Growth and Yield in Two Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars". HortScience. 55 (1): 40–45. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI14585-19. ISSN 0018-5345. S2CID 213728124.