Vaccinium padifolium
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Vaccinium padifolium.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Vaccinium padifolium
| authority = J.E. Sm. ex A.Rees
}}
Madeira blueberry or Uva-de-serra (Vaccinium padifolium ) is very common at elevations between {{convert|800|and|1700|m|ft}}. It grows mainly in crevices and exposed slopes and mountain plains. Fruits are used in preserves. It is endemic to the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, Portugal.
Description
It is a semi-evergreen scrub to small tree 1.5–6 m tall. New branches are generally reddish and pubescent. Leaves are often flushed dark red in autumn 2.5–7 × 1–2(2.5) cm, oblong to elliptic, acute to acuminate, petiole short, pubescent. Calyx 3–4 mm, with five short, broad lobes up to 1.5 mm. Flowers on curved pedicels in erect, axillary, bracteate racemes. Corolla, 7–10 mm, globose to campanulate, the lobes very short. There are often five broad rose stripes on the white corolla. Berries up to 12 × 10 mm, ripening blue-black.
Chemistry
The blue color of the berries is due to anthocyanins (Delphinidin 3-O-α-rhamnoside and anthocyanins triglycosides).Anthocyanin trisaccharides in blue berries of Vaccinium padifolium. Luis Cabrita, Nils Åge Frøystein and Øyvind M. Andersen, Food Chemistry, Volume 69, Issue 1, April 2000, Pages 33–36, {{doi|10.1016/S0308-8146(99)00230-7}}
Picture gallery
File:Vaccinium padifolium shrubs on a slope in front of a view towards São Vicente in October 1999..jpg|Vaccinium padifolium shrubs on a slope in front of a view of São Vicente in Madeira, Portugal.
File:Vaccinium padifolium bushes on a slope in front of a view towards São Vicente in October 1999..jpg|Vaccinium padifolium bushes on a slope in front of a view towards São Vicente.
File:Vaccinium padifolium, Encumenada mountain plain in October 1999..jpg|Vaccinium padifolium.
File:Vaccinium padifolium, flowers, Encumenada mountain plain in October 1999..jpg|Vaccinium padifolium, flowers.
File:Vaccinium padifolium in October 1999..jpg|Vaccinium padifolium.
File:Vaccinium padifolium, autumn leaves, Encumenada mountain plain in October 1999..jpg|Vaccinium padifolium, autumn leaves.
File:Vaccinium padifolium, over 2 m high shrub, Encumenada mountain plain in October 1999..jpg|Vaccinium padifolium, over 2 m high shrub.
References
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
- Flora Endémica da Madeira, Roberto Jardim, David Francisco, Múchia, Publicações, 1ªed, 2000, Portugal, {{ISBN|972-8622-00-7}}
- J. R. Press and M. J. Short, Flora of Madeira, {{ISBN|9781 898 29880 9}}, 2001, Natural History Museum, UK,
{{Taxonbar|from=Q10388513}}