Vaccinium padifolium, commonly known as Madeira blueberry or Uva-de-serra, is a Portuguese species of flowering plant.
Description It is a semi-evergreen scrub to small tree tall. New branches are generally reddish and pubescent. The leaves are long and 1–2.5 cm wide, oblong to elliptic, acute to acuminate, and often flushed dark red in autumn. The petiole is short and pubescent.
The flowers are borne on curved pedicels in erect, axillary, bracteate racemes. The calyx is , with five short, broad lobes up to 1.5 mm. The corolla is , globose to campanulate, the lobes very short. There are often five broad rose stripes on the white corolla. The berries are up to , ripening blue-black.
The blue color of the berries is due to anthocyanins.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, Portugal. It grows mainly in crevices and exposed slopes and mountain plains. It is very common at elevations between .
Uses The fruits are used in preserves.
References
External links
Flora Endémica da Madeira, Roberto Jardim, David Francisco, Múchia, Publicações, 1ªed, 2000, Portugal, J. R. Press and M. J. Short, Flora of Madeira, , 2001, Natural History Museum, UK,