Vaccinium emarginatum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Agapetes emarginata
• Vaccinium amamianum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is part of the order Ericales and falls under the family Ericaceae. Finally, it is specifically categorized under the genus Vaccinium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the regions of Eastern Asia. Its natural habitat includes the Nansei-shotō islands, which are part of the Ryukyu archipelago. Furthermore, the species can be found growing within the subtropical landscapes of Taiwan. This distribution pattern highlights its preference for these particular island and coastal environments. Consequently, its presence is limited to these distinct East Asian locations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vaccinium emarginatum is characterized by its distribution across significant altitudinal gradients, occupying diverse montane and subalpine niches. The species demonstrates a broad vertical range, with its presence recorded from a minimum elevation of 1,160 m AMSL to a maximum peak of 3,500 m AMSL. Within these habitats, the plant typically thrives at a mean elevation of approximately 2,330 m AMSL, suggesting a specialized adaptation to the temperate and cool climatic conditions found in mid-to-high altitude mountain ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2330 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1160 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Vaccinium emarginatum is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its habitat. Unlike many other members of its genus that shed foliage seasonally, this species maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its leaves throughout the year to facilitate continuous photosynthetic potential. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and constant foliage enables the plant to navigate environmental fluctuations effectively, ensuring its long-term survival and reproductive success in its native ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vaccinium emarginatum is characterized by its distinct growth form and structural composition. It primarily presents as a shrub, manifesting a bushy habit that defines its physical presence. In terms of its structural integrity, the plant is woody, possessing durable, lignified tissues that support its framework. Additionally, its climbing mechanism is classified as self-supporting, allowing the plant to maintain its upright or spreading structure without the requirement of external hosts or specialized climbing organs.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vaccinium emarginatum is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliar structures, which play a crucial role in its metabolic efficiency and surface area regulation. The leaf dimensions exhibit a controlled range of variability, with leaf lengths typically spanning from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, maintaining a calculated mean length of 2.75 cm. Complementing this longitudinal development, the leaf width demonstrates a specialized breadth ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. These precise leaf dimensions facilitate optimized photosynthetic activity and transpiration rates, ensuring the plant can effectively manage gas exchange and water retention within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vaccinium emarginatum culminates in the development of its characteristic fruits, which exhibit a highly consistent morphology. The fruits are characterized by uniform dimensions, where both the length and the width maintain a constant measurement. Specifically, the fruit length is remarkably stable, with a minimum, mean, and maximum value all recorded at 0.5 cm. Similarly, the fruit width displays no variance, with its minimum, mean, and maximum values all measuring exactly 0.5 cm. This uniformity in size results in a spherical or near-spherical fruit shape, ensuring that every specimen produced adheres to these precise morphological parameters of 0.5 cm in both diameter and longitudinal extension.

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vaccinium emarginatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Vaccinium emarginatum has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, Epicatechin, Hyperin, Isoquercetin, Lupeol.

CATECHIN

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Epicatechin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Hyperin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Isoquercetin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Lupeol

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Procyanidin A1

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Procyanidin B3

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

alpha-Amyrin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

beta-Amyrin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Vaccinium emarginatum has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus aureus, hepatocellular carcinoma.

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Vaccinium emarginatum has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include root nodule extract.

Root nodule extract

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)