Vaccinium virgatum
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox Vaccinium virgatum (commonly known as rabbit-eye blueberry,<ref name=grin>Template:GRIN</ref> smallflower blueberry<ref>Template:PLANTS</ref> or southern black blueberry<ref name=grin/>) is a species of blueberry native to the Southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas.
Description
Vaccinium virgatum is a deciduous shrub growing to 3 to 6 feet tall and with up to a 3-foot spread.<ref name="AsakawaAsakawa2001">Template:Cite book</ref> The leaves are spirally arranged, oblate to narrow elliptic, 3 inches long and start red-bronze in the spring only to develop into a dark-green.<ref name="AsakawaAsakawa2001"/> The flowers are white, bell-shaped, 5 mm long. The fruit is a berry 5 mm diameter, dark blue to black, bloomed pale blue-gray by a thin wax coating. Cytology is 2n = 72.<ref name="y832">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Habitat
This species has been observed occurring in environments such as deciduous forests, scrub habitats, low wet savannas, and floodplains.<ref>Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2023. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, R. K. Godfrey, R. Kral, R. L. Lazor, William Lindsey, Sidney McDaniel, R. A. Norris, William Platt, Angela M. Reid, and K. M. Robertson. States and counties: Florida: Calhoun, Franklin, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Nassau, Wakulla, and Washington. Georgia: Thomas.</ref>
Pollination
Vaccinium virgatum is self-infertile, and must have two or more varieties to pollenize each other. Honeybees are inefficient pollinators, and carpenter bees frequently cut the corollas to rob nectar without pollinating the flowers. V. virgatum does best when pollinated by buzz pollination by bees, such as the native southeastern blueberry bee, Habropoda laboriosa.
Uses
Culinary
Berries of Vaccinium virgatum are edible and are used as sauces and syrups, and for breads, muffins, pancakes, and pies,<ref name="AsakawaAsakawa2001"/> and may have pain killing properties (antinociceptive effects).<ref>Maria Rosana Ramirez, Leandra Guterres, Odila E. Dickel, Micheli R. de Castro, Amelia T. Henriques, Márcia M. de Souza, Daniela Martí Barros "Preliminary Studies on the Antinociceptive Activity of Vaccinium ashei Berry in Experimental Animal Models." Journal of Medicinal Food. April 2010: 336-342</ref>
Ornamental
Vaccinium virgatum is grown as an ornamental plant, especially for its fall colors, typically bright orange or red.<ref name="AsakawaAsakawa2001"/>
Cultivation
Vaccinium virgatum grows best on acid soil and is subject to few pests and diseases. Because it is not self-fruitful, two compatible varieties should be planted next to each other to maintain fruiting. If maintained with mulching, it may endure temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants mature to heights from 3 to 6 feet, with a width of up to 3 feet. The plant has few insect or disease problems, however birds and squirrels consume its fruit.<ref name="AsakawaAsakawa2001"/>