Plant Index
Vaccinium tenellum
Vaccinium tenellum Aiton
small black blueberry, small cluster blueberry, southern blueberry
Synonym(s): Cyanococcus tenellus
Image ID: 18044
Image by: Sorrie, Bruce A.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library
PLANT INDEX
ID_PLANT: VATE3SCIENTIFIC NAME: Vaccinium tenellum
Include in WOTAS: 0
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2016-12-31
GENUS INDEX
GENUS CODE: VACCIGENUS SCIENTIFIC: Vaccinium
GENUS AUTHORITY: L.
GENUS COMMON: Blueberry
GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of 140 species, shrubs, lianes, and small trees, semicosmopolitan. Vaccinium in our area is divided into 6 strongly differentiated sections, sometimes, as by Small, treated as separate genera. The taxonomy of Vaccinium remains unclear – past divergence of opinion is obvious in the synonymy. For instance, Small (1933) recognizes 6 genera and 25 species for our area, Ahles in RAB (1968) recognizes 1 genus and 14 species (one with 2 varieties) (not including VA), and Vander Kloet (1988) recognizes 1 genus and 9 species. The highbush blueberries of section Cyanococcus are particularly difficult. Vander Kloets extremely broad concept of the highbush blueberries as consisting of a single species, V. corymbosum, including V. fuscatum (V. atrococcum – RAB), V. simulatum (V. constablaei – RAB), V. virgatum (V. amoenum – RAB), V. elliottii, V. formosum (V. australe), and V. caesariense (and many other named taxa not recognized here) has been adopted by some recent authors, at least partly for its ease of application. I agree with Godfrey (1988), though, that V. elliottii has such distinctiveness as to be recognizable in the field at a glance. The other taxa are less easily recognizable, but seem to have substantial morphological and phytogeographic integrity. The fairly frequent presence of hybrid individuals and populations can make identification frustrating, but I agree with Ward (1974) that the genus Vaccinium ... is difficult but not in any way an irresolvable tangle of intergrading populations. The vast bulk of individuals encountered in the field may be assigned, as with any non-apomict genus, to a relatively few, discrete, and wholly recognizable species. Many of the taxa included in V. corymbosum by Vander Kloet (1988) and Luteyn et al. (1996) occur together in combinations of two to four, are immediately recognizable in the field, bloom at different times, and have different flower, fruit, and leaf morphology. Failure to recognize multiple entities within the highbush blueberries results in the taxonomic homogenization of the diversity of the group and obscures important phytogeographic patterns. Our area, with 20 species (24 taxa) in 6 sections, has a greater diversity of Vaccinium than any other comparably sized area in North America.
GENUS IDENTIFICATION:
GENUS REFERENCES: Vander Kloet (1988)=Z; Uttal (1987)=Y; Camp (1945)=X; Ashe (1931)=V; Ward (1974)=Q; Luteyn et al. (1996)=L; Vander Kloet in FNA (2009); Vander Kloet & Hall (1981); Vander Kloet (1977, 1978a, 1978b, 1980, 1982, 1983a, 1983b); Uttal (1986a, 1986b); Smith et al. (2015)=D; Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004). Key based in part on Uttal (1987).
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: ERICACFAMILY SCIENTIFIC: Ericaceae
FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789
FAMILY COMMON: Heath Family
FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 107-124 genera and 3400-4100 species, primarily shrubs, small trees, and subshrubs, nearly cosmopolitan. The Ericaceae is very important in our area, which is one of the north temperate centers of diversity for the Ericaceae, with a great diversity of genera and species, many of them rather narrowly endemic. Along with Quercus and Pinus, various members of this family are dominant in much of our landscape.
FAMILY REFERENCE: Tucker in FNA (2009); Gillespie & Kron (2010, 2013); Kron et al. (2002); Wood (1961); Judd & Kron (1993); Kron & Chase (1993); Luteyn et al. (1996)=L; Dorr & Barrie (1993); Cullings & Hileman (1997); Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004).
NCBG DESCRIPTIVES
INTRO:STEMS:
LEAVES:
INFLORESCENCE:
FLOWERS:
FRUITS:
COMMENTS:
HEIGHT:
DURATION: Perennial
HABIT: Subshrub, Shrub
LEAF ARRANGEMENT:
LEAF COMPLEXITY:
LEAF RETENTION:
FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
BLOOM TIME: Late Mar-Early May
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| x | x | x | x | x |
BLOOM COLOR:
| White | Red | Pink | Orange | Yellow | Green | Blue | Lavender | Purple | Violet | Brown | Not Applicable |
FRUITING PERIOD: Jun-Jul.
DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE:
NATIVE RANGE: southeastern United States
HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text:
Bloom Table Text:
NCBG Location:
Cultural Notes:
SOIL MOISTURE: Dry, Average, Moist/Wet
LIGHT EXPOSURE: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE:
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE:
GERMINATION CODE:
WILDLIFE VALUE:
DEER RESISTANCE:
GRIM COLLECTIONS
| Coll_id | Project | Collection date | Collector | Action |
| 260 | HORT | NCBG staff | View |
GRIM ACCESSIONS
| acc_id | acc_num | acc_dt | coll_id | Action |
| 257 | 2011-0099 | 2011-05-04 | 260 | View |
| 2719 | 1987-0197 | View | ||
| 3742 | 1991-0437 | View | ||
| 4571 | 1992-0727 | View | ||
| 5007 | 1995-0126 | View | ||
| 5216 | 1995-0335 | View | ||
| 6367 | 1995-1499 | View | ||
| 7770 | 2001-0126 | 2001-06-21 | View |
GRIM PLANTINGS
| plt_num | acc_id | loc_num | pers_num | inst_dt | Action |
| 608 | 257 | 36 | NCBG staff | 2011-04-19 | View |
| 609 | 257 | 37 | NCBG staff | 2011-04-19 | View |
| 610 | 257 | 102 | Liloia | 2011-12-06 | View |
| 611 | 257 | 111 | NCBG staff | 2011-10-18 | View |
| 4529 | 2719 | 8 | NCBG staff | 1979-06-11 | View |
| 6049 | 3742 | 199 | NCBG staff | 0000-00-00 | View |
| 6900 | 4571 | 200 | NCBG staff | 1993-03-01 | View |
| 7426 | 5007 | 202 | NCBG staff | 1992-01-01 | View |
| 7669 | 5216 | 203 | NCBG staff | 1992-01-01 | View |
| 9022 | 6367 | 2 | NCBG staff | 0000-00-00 | View |
| 10973 | 7770 | 58 | NCBG staff | 1987-01-01 | View |
| 10974 | 7770 | 54 | NCBG staff | 1987-01-01 | View |
| 13784 | 0 | 51 | Liloia | 0000-00-00 | View |
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
USDA Symbol: VATE3USDA Common Name: Small Black Blueberry
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, VA)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Subshrub, Shrub
NATIONAL WETLAND INDICATOR STATUS
| Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
| Status: | FACU | UPL |
WEAKLEY FLORA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Vaccinium tenellumCOMMON NAME: Southern Blueberry, Small Cluster Blueberry
SYNONYMY: [= C, F, FNA, G, K, L, RAB, Va, X, Y, Z; = Cyanococcus tenellus (Aiton) Small - S]
PHENOLOGY: Late Mar-early May; Jun-Jul.
HABITAT: Sandhills, pine flatwoods, other xeric woodlands.
COMMENTS: Though abundant in the Carolinas, V. tenellum is rather restricted, occurring as a common species from se. VA to c. GA, with a range extension (where it is scattered and rare) south and west to n. FL, s. AL, and se. MS.
RANGE MAP: Vaccinium tenellum.png
Key to Map Symbols
ABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora)
Ericaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Heath Family)
SUMMARY: A family of about 107-124 genera and 3400-4100 species, primarily shrubs, small trees, and subshrubs, nearly cosmopolitan. The Ericaceae is very important in our area, which is one of the north temperate centers of diversity for the Ericaceae, with a great diversity of genera and species, many of them rather narrowly endemic. Along with Quercus and Pinus, various members of this family are dominant in much of our landscape.
REFERENCE: Tucker in FNA (2009); Gillespie & Kron (2010, 2013); Kron et al. (2002); Wood (1961); Judd & Kron (1993); Kron & Chase (1993); Luteyn et al. (1996)=L; Dorr & Barrie (1993); Cullings & Hileman (1997); Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004).
ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora)
Vaccinium L. (Blueberry)
SUMMARY: A genus of 140 species, shrubs, lianes, and small trees, semicosmopolitan. Vaccinium in our area is divided into 6 strongly differentiated sections, sometimes, as by Small, treated as separate genera. The taxonomy of Vaccinium remains unclear – past divergence of opinion is obvious in the synonymy. For instance, Small (1933) recognizes 6 genera and 25 species for our area, Ahles in RAB (1968) recognizes 1 genus and 14 species (one with 2 varieties) (not including VA), and Vander Kloet (1988) recognizes 1 genus and 9 species. The highbush blueberries of section Cyanococcus are particularly difficult. Vander Kloets extremely broad concept of the highbush blueberries as consisting of a single species, V. corymbosum, including V. fuscatum (V. atrococcum – RAB), V. simulatum (V. constablaei – RAB), V. virgatum (V. amoenum – RAB), V. elliottii, V. formosum (V. australe), and V. caesariense (and many other named taxa not recognized here) has been adopted by some recent authors, at least partly for its ease of application. I agree with Godfrey (1988), though, that V. elliottii has such distinctiveness as to be recognizable in the field at a glance. The other taxa are less easily recognizable, but seem to have substantial morphological and phytogeographic integrity. The fairly frequent presence of hybrid individuals and populations can make identification frustrating, but I agree with Ward (1974) that the genus Vaccinium ... is difficult but not in any way an irresolvable tangle of intergrading populations. The vast bulk of individuals encountered in the field may be assigned, as with any non-apomict genus, to a relatively few, discrete, and wholly recognizable species. Many of the taxa included in V. corymbosum by Vander Kloet (1988) and Luteyn et al. (1996) occur together in combinations of two to four, are immediately recognizable in the field, bloom at different times, and have different flower, fruit, and leaf morphology. Failure to recognize multiple entities within the highbush blueberries results in the taxonomic homogenization of the diversity of the group and obscures important phytogeographic patterns. Our area, with 20 species (24 taxa) in 6 sections, has a greater diversity of Vaccinium than any other comparably sized area in North America.
REFERENCE: Vander Kloet (1988)=Z; Uttal (1987)=Y; Camp (1945)=X; Ashe (1931)=V; Ward (1974)=Q; Luteyn et al. (1996)=L; Vander Kloet in FNA (2009); Vander Kloet & Hall (1981); Vander Kloet (1977, 1978a, 1978b, 1980, 1982, 1983a, 1983b); Uttal (1986a, 1986b); Smith et al. (2015)=D; Stevens et al. in Kubitzki (2004). Key based in part on Uttal (1987).
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Vaccinium tenellum in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)UNC SERNEC: Find Vaccinium tenellum in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)
WEB RESOURCES
USDA: Find Vaccinium tenellum in USDA PlantsNPIN: Find Vaccinium tenellum in NPIN Database
FNA: Find Vaccinium tenellum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vaccinium tenellum
IMAGE USE RECORDS
ID IMAGE: 18044 - Primary Image FloraQuest Plant Detail Page (Landscape Preferred)ID IMAGE1: 18044 - Primary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE2: 7511 - Secondary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE3: 0 - Primary Image Plant Sale Sign (Landscape Only)
ID IMAGE4: 0 - Primary Image New Plant Sale Label (Portrait Only)
From the Image Gallery
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