Vaccinium reticulatum, known as in Hawaiian, is a species of Hawaiian Vaccinium.
Description is a shrub usually tall, rarely up to . The leaves are evergreen, spirally arranged, leathery, oval, long, red when freshly emerging, then green or green with reddish patches.
The flowers are bell-shaped, long, variable in color, red to yellow or pink.
The fruit is a berry diameter, ranging in color from blue to purple to red to orange to yellow. The color does not necessarily indicate the ripeness of the berries. They taste somewhat similar to the related cranberries, less ripe ones being tart, while ripe berries are quite sweet but bland.
Distribution and habitat The species is endemic to Hawaii. It grows at altitudes of on lava flows and freshly disturbed volcanic ash on Maui and Hawaii, and less commonly on Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. Adaptations to volcanic activity include the ability to survive ash falls of over depth.
Ecology The berries are an important food source for the nēnē (Branta sandvicensis); the seeds are dispersed in the birds' droppings (endozoochory). Uses The berry is edible and flavorful.
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins can be obtained by the means of the species in vitro cell culture.
References
External links
Plants of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Vaccinium reticulatum