Vander Kloet Research Articles

Vacciniumspecies ploidy assessment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR), Corvallis, Oregon, maintains the national collection for Vaccinium L. germplasm. The NCGR genebank includes more than 1700 accessions, with representatives of 81 Vaccinium taxa from around the world. The primary collection of clonal blueberries and their wild relatives are maintained as plants in containers in greenhouses and screenhouses. While the primary genepool for highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum L.), the main crop of economic importance, is within Section Cyanococcus, breeders wish to expand gene accessibility to include representatives of the rich diversity present in other sections. Knowledge of ploidy level is paramount for this task, but has been limited. The objective of this research was to evaluate ploidy levels of approximately 50 species within the NCGR collection. Ploidy was evaluated through flow cytometry using cell preparations from leaf samples. The base haplotype for Vaccinium is x=12. Many species native to the South Pacific and Southeast Asia were diploid (2n=2x=24). Sections Cyanococcus and Myrtillus each included diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid members. Section Oxycoccus had diploids and hexaploids. The clones of V. dependens (G. Don) Sleumer (sect. Brachyceratium) and V. poasanum (Donn. Sm.) (synonym = Symphysia poasanum (Donn. Sm.) Vander Kloet) were triploid. Pyxothamnus members from Meso- and South America, V. consanguineum Klotzsch and V. corymbodendron Dunal, were tetraploid. These two species are candidates for direct crosses with V. corymbosum. Ploidy levels from other species representatives and standards are reported.

Beyond botany to genetic resource preservation: the S.P. Vander Kloet Vaccinium collections1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

Sam P. Vander Kloet, botanist, traveled the world examining and obtaining specimens to redefine infrageneric taxonomic units within Vaccinium L., family Ericaceae. Besides his botanical treatises, his legacy includes herbarium voucher specimens and ex situ genetic resource collections including a seed bank and living plant collections at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada; the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada; the Canadian Clonal Genebank, Harrow, Ontario, Canada; and the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon, United States. Sam P. Vander Kloet’s collections include representatives of wild Ericaceae with special emphasis on collections of North American and subtropical endemic Vaccinium species. These reference collections are significant and represent a lifetime of dedicated research. Representatives of his heritage collections have now been deposited not only in American genebanks (in Canada and the United States) but also in the World Genebank in Svalbard, Norway, for long term conservation and future evaluation of Vaccinium for the service of humanity. The bequest of his wild collected germplasm will continue to be available to facilitate utilization of an extended Vaccinium gene pool for development and breeding throughout the world.

Floral volatile composition of four species of Vaccinium1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

The floral volatile composition of four species of Vaccinium was profiled to asses the diversity of the floral chemistry within this genus. Flowers of Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, Vaccinium varingiaefolium Miq., Vaccinium arboreum Marsh., and Vaccinium poasanum Donn. Sm. were sampled from three or more plants, and volatiles were collected and analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy. A total of 45 volatile compounds were detected in the air (headspace) surrounding flowers including 40 from V. angustifolium, 34 for V. varingiaefolium, 37 for V. arboreum, and 17 for V. poasanum. Of the volatile compounds identified, 34 were terpenoids, 6 were benzoids and phenylpropanoids, 4 were aliphatics, and 1 was a miscellaneous cyclic compound. Terpenoids accounted for 98%, 80%, 76%, and 67% of the total volatiles for V. angustifolium, V. varingiaefolium, V. arboreum, and V. poasanum, respectively. The most abundant volatile compound emitted from the flowers of each species was α-pinene for V. angustifolium (23%) and V. arboreum (63%), methyl benzoate for V. varingiaefolium (18%), and ethyl benzene for V. poasanum (21%). Substantial variation was observed in the floral volatile composition of these four Vaccinium species, which may reflect their diverse ecological origins.

Evidence of functional gender polymorphisms in a population of the hermaphroditic lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

Lowbush blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) is a wild, but cultivated for profit, agricultural system grown primarily in the northeastern regions of North America. It has been suggested that a functional gender specialization may be occurring in this hermaphroditic species in which some individuals (termed clones) effectively function as bearers (high ovule production but little or nonviable pollen) or as pollen donors (low ovule number with high quantities of viable pollen). The purpose of this study was to investigate if functional gender specialization was occurring in a randomly chosen population of 56 clones from the Blueberry Hill Research Farm in Jonesboro, Maine. For each clone, the mean number of ovules and the mean number of viable microspores per flower were determined. From this, functional gender was calculated. Five out of 56 clones, or approximately 10% of clones, were found to be functioning primarily as females, owing to their low levels of viable pollen. Thus, some evidence was found of a functional gender specialization occurring—the presence of a few plants that were nearly male-sterile. Since the most common evolutionary pathway to gynodioecy involves the invasion of male steriles, it is interesting to speculate that a trend towards gender dimorphism could be occurring in lowbush blueberry.

The regeneration ecology of Empetrum nigrum, the black crowberry, on coastal heathland in Nova Scotia1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

The reproductive cycle of the black crowberry ( Empetrum nigrum L., Ericaceae) was investigated on exposed headlands on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. At the main study site, Gaff Point, aerial photographs revealed a shoreline retreat rate from 1976 to 2011 (ca. 0.3 m·y–1), with a threefold increase in the rate of heath area loss in the last 10 years relative to the previous 25 years (1976–2001). Empetrum nigrum produces a large crop of berries and sets up seedlings via three main dispersers (gulls, passerines, and mink) at the sea edge and woodland margin. Laboratory study demonstrated that seed germination was scant and slow in the season of berry production but that it was rapid and substantial (mean 33%–50% from berry or scat) for seeds that incubated overwinter in berry or in scat. The largest seed bank coincides with the site of greatest berry production in the heath, but seedlings were not observed in its mat. Most of the scat rain (77%) is deposited at the shore edge and seedlings here are lost to coastal erosion over-winter. Spruce tree understories are the only safe sites for seedling establishment, and if these juveniles become adults of heathland formed after the death of edge trees, the crowberry has an ontogenetic niche shift adapted to climate change. A preliminary checklist is provided for conservation managers of coastal heaths.

Vacciniumspecies of sectionHemimyrtillus: their value to cultivated blueberry and approaches to utilization1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

The primary gene pool of Vaccinium species used by breeders has traditionally been the North American Vaccinium species in section Cyanococcus. Blueberries in commercial production represent several Vaccinium species and ploidies. Moreover, significant use has been made of the secondary gene pool of Vaccinium, especially in the development of southern highbush cultivars. Section Hemimyrtillus represents species that are part of the tertiary gene pool of Vaccinium. Two species of section Hemimyrtillus, native to the Portuguese islands of Madeira (Vaccinium padifolium Smith) and the Azores (Vaccinium cylindraceum Smith), have features of notable value to conventional blueberry development such as upright structure, strong growth, abundant flowering and fruiting, good self-fertility, acceptable fruit quality, inflorescence structure suited to mechanical harvesting, and repeat flowering. Vaccinium cylindraceum is deciduous, whereas V. padifolium is evergreen. Vaccinium arctostaphylos L., a native of the Caucasus region, is closely allied to V. padifolium, hybridizes freely with it, and has many similar characters, but with the valuable addition of greater cold hardiness. Initial progress has been made at incorporating these species into forms compatible with Vaccinium corymbosum L. based blueberry cultivars, and further evaluations are being made of both parental material and the derived hybrids.

Antiglycation activity of Vaccinium spp. (Ericaceae) from the Sam Vander Kloet collection for the treatment of type II diabetes1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

In this report, the inhibition of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) by extracts of leaves from a collection of six, mainly tropical, Vaccinium L. spp. (Ericaceae) was examined. Indigenous Peoples have used Vaccinium species to treat symptoms of type I and II diabetes. Sustained hyperglycaemia, often associated with diabetes, facilitates crosslinking of sugars with proteins, producing AGEs. AGEs are a therapeutic target since they are responsible for many diabetes symptoms and contribute to ageing and the development of atherosclerosis, kidney, vascular, and neurological diseases. Vaccinium barandanum S. Vidal, Vaccinium consanguineum Klotzsch, Vaccinium gaultheriifolium (Griff.) Hook. f. ex C.B. Clarke, Vaccinium poasanum Donn. Sm., Vaccinium tonkinense Dop, and Disterigma rimbachii (A.C. Sm.) Luteyn (outgroup) were collected from Sam Vander Kloet’s common garden collection. Ethanolic extracts of leaves of these Vaccinium spp. were potent inhibitors of AGEs. Vaccinium and outgroup species extracts tested in an AGE inhibition assay demonstrated concentration dependent inhibition, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 4.2 to 16.2 µg·mL–1. Phenolic content ranged from 258 to 626 (µg quercetin equivalents·mg extract–1). Activity and phenolic content show that these tropical accessions have a higher phenolic content (p < 0.001, t test) and AGE inhibition (p < 0.03, t test) than six temperate species from our collections in eastern North America. Significant relationships were found between IC50 and latitude of geographic origin.

Comparison of berry composition of selectedVacciniumspecies (Ericaceae) withGaylussacia dumosa1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

The genus Vaccinium contains a wide array of plants distributed throughout the world including several commercial species as well as epiphytic shrubs and lianas in the tropics. Vaccinium dumosum Andrews was reclassified as Gaylussacia dumosa (Andrews) Torr. & A. Gray in 1843 owing to its single seeded 10-locular ovary. Since then, evidence suggests G. dumosa be returned to Vaccinium. In this study, fruit composition of G. dumosa was compared with that of Vaccinium corymbosum L., Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, Vaccinium gaulteriifolium (Griff.) Hook. f., Vaccinium acrobracteatum K. Sch., and Vaccinium hirsutum Buckley. Ripe fruit from each species were collected and analyzed. In each of the species, primary sugars were glucose and fructose, and acids were quinic, malic, and citric. Total phenolic content correlated with antioxidant capacity. Anthocyanin profiles showed that fruit from each of the species studied contained no pelargonidin glucosides, which are common in fruit of other genera. A total of 27 volatile compounds, dominated by terpenes and several esters, were detected. These volatiles were all found in four of the species including G. dumosa. No volatile compounds were detected in G. dumosa that were not found in the Vaccinium species. Gaylussacia dumosa showed no chemical composition that was significantly different than that of the Vaccinium species surveyed, suggesting that G. dumosa is aligned with Vaccinium.

Effects of bird ingestion on seed germination of Vaccinium cylindraceum (Ericaceae), an endemic species of the Azores archipelago1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “A tribute to Sam Vander Kloet FLS: Pure and applied research from blueberries to heathland ecology”.

In this paper we investigate the effects of bird ingestion on Vaccinium cylindraceum Smith seed germination characteristics and the effect of a lack of bird dispersal on seed germination in the field. To test the effect of bird ingestion on seed germination, we carried out laboratory germination trials using ingested seeds and manually depulped seeds. To test the effect of a lack of bird dispersal on seed germination, we carried out germination trials using intact fruits above or under a cap of dead leaves under field conditions. The number of damaged seeds per fruit differed between species. Nearly 92% and 70% of the seeds ingested by, respectively, Erithacus rubecula and Turdus merula passed intact through the birds’ digestive tracts, and the germination characteristics of these seeds were not significantly affected. Only 16% of the seeds ingested passed intact through the digestive tract of Fringilla coelebs , and the germination ability of these seeds was significantly reduced. Uncovered intact berries in the field cracked, exposing the seeds to light, thus resulting in 18% of germination. Our results suggest that E. rubecula, T. merula, and F. coelebs can act as seed dispersers of V. cylindraceum. Also, V. cylindraceum seeds do not need to be ingested to germinate, but seed germination is enhanced as a consequence of seed exposure to light.

Habitat may limit herb migration at the northern edge of the Appalachian deciduous forest *This paper is dedicated to our botanical mentor, the late Dr. Sam P. Vander Kloet.

Forest herbs account for greater species richness than any other plant type in deciduous forests and are the most vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances. We examined whether the limited distribution of rare Appalachian forest herbs in Nova Scotia is related to edaphic specialization or a history of anthropogenic disturbance. Remnant populations are restricted to floodplain forest, where both habitat factors and disturbance history differ significantly from those of adjacent upland sugar maple forest. Contrasting soil and litter layers between floodplain stands and adjacent upland sites revealed the latter to be deficient in key cations (calcium, magnesium, boron); however, regression models for uplands and for floodplains showed that native herb richness was related to soil fertility in each case. Soil calcium accounted for most of the species richness variation among floodplains for native herbs and for a large seeded guild that contains most of the rare species on floodplains. Given the widespread anthropogenic decalcification of forest soils throughout eastern North America, conservation efforts must (i) increase and connect deciduous forest floodplain ecosystems and (ii) understand how to manage and create suitable cation-rich migration corridors in the forest landscape.

RAPD typification: phenetic analysis of Vaccinium inflorescences

The inflorescence of Vaccinium hiepii is described for the first time, and as predicted, its floral features are similar to those of V. chunii. However, this floral axis has nothing in common with the type of its putative section, i.e. Vaccinium sect. Galeopetalum. Subsequent numerical analyses of inflorescence types in Vaccinium using 43 taxa and 11 floral features suggest three inflorescence types for the genus: (1) the ‘myrtillus’ type where a single flower emerges directly from the axil of some leaves or bracts of the current shoot; (2) the ‘dialypetalum’ type where just the floral primordia are laid down within the confines of the perennating bud; (3) the ‘hiepii’ type where the complete floral axis is laid down within the perennating bud. Based on this tripartite division, a new taxon, Vaccinium sect. Calcicolus Vander Kloet sect. nov. is described for these Himalayan blueberries. A diagnostic key and brief description is provided for the eight species included in this new section. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 148, 445–457.

Early Indications of Market Impacts from the Marine Stewardship Council's Ecolabeling of Seafood

Early Indications of Market Impacts from the Marine Stewardship Council's Ecolabeling of Seafood

RAPD assessment of novelties resulting in a new species of Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) from Vietnam

A molecular technique (RAPD-PCR) is used to determine the relationship of an unknown Vaccinium from Vietnam to Vaccinia from throughout the south-east Pacific region. Based on the RAPD and morphological data, a new taxon, Vaccinium hiepii vander Kloet, sp. nov., is described. Cluster analyses (UPGMA, Neighbour-joining) clearly group V. hiepii with V. chunii, placing the new taxon within V. § Galeopetalum. Furthermore,Vaccinium § Bracteata sensu Sleumer (1941) is strongly supported by high bootstrap values within the dendrograms. Placement of V. petelotii within V. § Conchophyllum sensu Stevens (1969) is also possible.

RAPD assessment of novelties resulting in a new species of Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) from Vietnam

Abstract A molecular technique (RAPD-PCR) is used to determine the relationship of an unknown Vaccinium from Vietnam to Vaccinia from throughout the south-east Pacific region. Based on the RAPD and morphological data, a new taxon, Vaccinium hiepii vander Kloet, sp. nov. , is described. Cluster analyses (UPGMA, Neighbour-joining) clearly group V. hiepii with V. chunii , placing the new taxon within V. § Galeopetalum . Furthermore, Vaccinium § Bracteata sensu Sleumer (1941) is strongly supported by high bootstrap values within the dendrograms. Placement of V. petelotii within V. § Conchophyllum sensu Stevens (1969) is also possible.

On the interfacial properties of micrometre–sized water droplets in crude oil

The remarkable stability of water–in–crude oil emulsions is due to the presence of a complex adsorbed layer at the surfaces of the dispersed droplets. Except for its role as a steric barrier, little is known about the in situ properties of this interfacial structure. In this study, new insights into the adsorbed layer are provided by direct micrometre–scale measurements. At low crude content in the bulk where, according to interfacial tension isotherms, there should be little or no surfactants on the droplet surface, the adsorbed layer displays pronounced rigidity and is capable of preventing coalescence and coagulation of the droplets. Such interfaces are highly dissipative and can be well described by the Boussinesq–Scriven model. As the supply of surface active materials in the bulk (i.e. the crude content) increases , the adsorbed layer transforms from a rigid structure to a fluid interface. This fluid layer continues to inhibit coalescence, although signs of weak interdroplet adhesion begin to appear. Under area compression, the fluid interface will discharge micrometre–sized emulsion droplets into the oil phase via a ‘budding’ mechanism.

THE WILD LINGONBERRY (VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA L. VAR. MINUS LODD) INDUSTRY IN NORTH AMERICA

The lingonberry, known in Canada as the partridgeberry, foxbeny, redberry and cranberry grows throughout the country. The lingonberry also grows extensively in Alaska, where it is known as the lowbush cranberry and is utilized locally. This fruit can also be found in the extreme north east region of the United States especially in Maine and New Hampshire where it is harvested primarily for home use. Vander Kloet's The Genus Vaccinium in North America (Research Branch, Agriculture Canada. 1988) describes in detail the range of this plant in North America.

Vaccinium Oxycoccos L. (Oxycoccus Palustris Pers.) and Vaccinium Microcarpum (Turcz. ex Rupr.) Schmalh. (Oxycoccus Microcarpus Turcz. ex Rupr.)

Subgenus Oxycoccus (Hill) A. Gray. Vaccinium oxycoccos L. is an evergreen shrub. Aerial stems woody, slender, flexible, terete, procumbent, prostrate, rooting, filiform, dark brown to red, occasionally up to 80 cm with short, erect or ascending flowering branches (Fl. Eur. 3; Vander Kloet 1983; Stace 1991). The leaves are (2)-5-7-(10) mm long (5 + 1.5, Vander Kloet 1983) x 2-3-(6) mm (2.0 + 0.7mm, Vander Kloet 1983), evergreen, distant, alternate, almost sessile, entire, oblong-ovate, acute, subglabrous, equally broad from some distance from the base or broader towards the middle, dark shining green above, whitish glaucous beneath with wax so thick that it frequently obscures the stomata (Vander Kloet 1983); the margin of the blade is entire, frequently revolute and often strongly so (Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3; Fl. Eur. 3; Vander Kloet 1983; Stace 1991). Pedicels red, slender, filiform, are 2-3 cm long, more or less erect, puberulent (Fl. Br. Isl.; Stace 1991) with red scale-like bracts <1 mm wide, sometimes absent (Vander Kloet 1983); with two bracteoles, 1.5 x 0.4 mm, linear-oblong, acuminate about or below the middle (Fl. Br. Isl.; Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3; Vander Kloet 1983). The flowers, 4-merous, are grouped in axillary or apparently terminal racemes of 1-5. The calyx lobes are deltate to semicircular and ciliate (Fl. Eur. 3) and very small (Vander Kloet 1983). The corolla, pinkishred, is divided almost to the base in lobes 5-6 mm, ovate-oblong, revolute at full anthesis and ciliate. The 8 stamens are apically dehiscent, 4-6 mm; the filaments are pubescent on the edges, glabrous or slightly pubescent outside, much shorter than anthers (Fl. Br. Isl.); the anther sacs are awnless, the tubules are slender, 1 mm long (Fl. Br. Isl.; Vander Kloet 1983); anthers are covered with small warts (Warming 1908). Pollen tetrad diameter ranges between 31.6 ,m and 47.5 ,m (Oldfield 1959; Paquereau 1959; Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3; Hebda 1979; Vander Kloet 1983; Warner & Chinnappa 1986; Delbuscheche 1996). Style 3-4mm long, glabrous (Vander Kloet 1983). There are a mean of 20 anatropic, tenuinucellate and unitegmic ovules (Baranec et al. 1996). In Belgium, the number of ovules averages 21.6 + 6.2 per flower and the number of tetrads is about 782 + 397 per anther (Delbuscheche 1996). Hebda (1979) found a mean of 1031 (range 881-1152) tetrads per anther. Nectar is produced at the base of the style (Warming 1908). The fruit is an over-wintering berry (cranberry), globose to rarely pyriform, red (rarely white, f. leucocarpus Aschers., Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3), sometimes speckled with white or brown, edible (Fl. Eur. 3); (4)-810-(15) mm (Fl. Eur. 3; Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3; Grime et al. 1981; Vander Kloet 1983; Stace 1991). Seed number of berry ranges between 3 and 1 1 (Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3; Vander Kloet 1983; Ehrlen & Eriksson 1993; Delbuscheche 1996; Eriksson & Froborg 1996): there are 14 large brown seeds in each of the 4 locules of the berry (Vander Kloet 1983). The seeds, dark brown, are 1.5-2.8 mm in length (Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3); seed coat reticulate (Hegi Fl. 1, ed. 3). The seed fresh mass averages 0.68 + 0.17mg (n = 246) (Vander Kloet 1983). Native, on peat bogs, usually in the wetter parts (Fl. Eur. 3).

Genetic Differentiation of Diploid Blueberry, Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus (Ericaceae)

The most dissected taxonomic treatment of Vaccinium section Cyanococcus, generated by Camp in 1945, recognized nine diploid (2n = 24) taxa. More recently, Vander Kloet recognized six taxa nesting the two hillside blueberries and the three highbush blueberries, respectively. Whereas previous taxonomic treatments have been based primarily upon morphological data, field studies, chromosome counts, and crossability, the present study employs allozyme data to assess genetic relationships of representative diploid blueberry populations. Starch gel electrophoresis was conducted on population samples obtained from 25 sites identified in an extensive field survey of this endemic North American section. Data were collected at 11 polymorphic loci previously observed to have high taxonomic information content. Data were analyzed to obtain similarity, as well as standard measures of population genetic structure. Five genetic lineages were discriminated; these were supported by highly disparate allelic frequencies. Conspecific populations were undif- ferentiated, with distribution of genetic variation similar to that described for other predominantly outcrossing species. In conjunction with patterns of morphological variation, this study supports the recognition of seven species: two highbush species, V. corymbosum and V. elliottii, and five lowbush species, V. boreale, V. darrowii, V. myrtilloides, V. pallidum, and V. tenellum.

The taxonomy ofVaccinium sectionHemimyrtillus

In view of their awnless stamens and pseudo-10-loculed berries borne on short racemes several NE Asian species ofVaccinium (includingV. hirtum, V. smallii, V. versicolor, andV. yakushimense) were transferred toVaccinium sectionCyanococcus by Sleumer (1941). Subsequently, however, Stevens (1969) and Vander Kloet (1972, 1981) argued on the basis of further study that these taxa should be transferred instead to sectionHemimyrtillus. Phenetic analyses of data from representatives of sectionsCyanococcus andHemimyrtillus, including NE Asian taxa transferred by Sleumer, demonstrate the distinctness of the two sections and support the assignment of the NE Asian taxa to sectionHemimyrtillus. A revised taxonomic treatment and key to the species ofVaccinium sectionHemimyrtillus is provided.

The utility of stem characters in the classification of Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae)

SummaryOdell, E. A. &amp; Vander Kloet, S. P.: The utility of stem characters in the classification of Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae). ‐ Taxon 40: 273–283. 1991. ‐ ISSN 0040‐0262.The efficacy of 28 stem features at re‐creating the classification of 13 established sections of Vaccinium was tested using taximetric analysis and was found to be wanting. However, adding three reproductive features to the matrix was sufficient to recover all of these sections. Stem characters will, therefore, recover specific groups previously circumscribed by a suite of both reproductive and vegetative features.