Vaccinium myrsinites

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Vaccinium myrsinites
Vacc myrs.jpg
Photo by Pat Howell, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Vaccinium
Species: V. myrsinites
Binomial name
Vaccinium myrsinites
Lam.
Vacc myrs dist.jpg
Natural range of Vaccinium myrsinites from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Shiny blueberry, Southern evergreen blueberry

Taxonomic notes

Synonym: Cyanococcus myrsinites (Lamarck) Small var. myrsinites

Description

A description of Vaccinium myrsinites is provided in The Flora of North America.

Distribution

Ecology

Habitat

V. myrsinites responds both positively and negatively to heavy silvilculture in North Florida. [1] When exposed to soil disturbance by military training in West Georgia, V. myrsinites responds negatively by way of absence.[2] It also responds negatively to soil disturbance by agriculture in Southwest Georgia.[3] V. myrsinites responds both positively and negatively to soil disturbance by clearcutting and roller chopping in North Florida.[4]

Phenology

V. myrsinites has been observed to flower January to April with peak inflorescence in March.[5]

Seed dispersal

This species is thought to be dispersed by consumption by vertebrates. [6] In particular, it has been found to be dispersed by the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).[7]

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Vaccinium myrsinites at Archbold Biological Station: [8]

Apidae: Nomada fervida

Halictidae: Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, A. gratiosa, Augochloropsis anonyma, A. metallica, A. sumptuosa, Lasioglossum pectoralis

Leucospididae: Leucospis slossonae

Megachilidae: Coelioxys sayi, Megachile brevis pseudobrevis, M. mendica

Sphecidae: Ectemnius rufipes ais

Vespidae: Parancistrocerus salcularis rufulus, Pseudodynerus quadrisectus, Stenodynerus fundatiformis, S. histrionalis rufustus, S. lineatifrons

Conservation and management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. Conde, L.F., B.F. Swindel, and J.E. Smith. (1986). Five Years of Vegetation Changes Following Conversion of Pine Flatwoods to Pinus elliottii Plantations. Forest Ecology and Management 15(4):295-300.
  2. Dale, V.H., S.C. Beyeler, and B. Jackson. (2002). Understory vegetation indicators of anthropogenic disturbance in longleaf pine forests at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. Ecological Indicators 1(3):155-170.
  3. Kirkman, L.K., K.L. Coffey, R.J. Mitchell, and E.B. Moser. Ground Cover Recovery Patterns and Life-History Traits: Implications for Restoration Obstacles and Opportunities in a Species-Rich Savanna. (2004). Journal of Ecology 92(3):409-421.
  4. Lewis, C.E., G.W. Tanner, and W.S. Terry. (1988). Plant responses to pine management and deferred-rotation grazing in north Florida. Journal of Range Management 41(6):460-465.
  5. Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 14 DEC 2016
  6. Kay Kirkman, unpublished data, 2015.
  7. Carlson, J. E., E. S. Menges, and P. L. Marks. 2003. Seed dispersal by Gopherus polyphemus at Archbold Biological Station, Florida. Florida Scientist, v. 66, no. 2, p. 147-154.
  8. Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.