Biosystematic Studies of Vaccinium Section Macropelma (Ericaeae) in Hawaii

A survey of seed and seedling morphology of the three Hawaiian species of Vaccinium sect. Macropelma (V. calycinum Smith, V. den tatum Smith, and V. reticulatum Smith) revealed that seed shape, size, and seed coat sculpture showed little interspecific variation and that the primary shoots bore similar, thick, coarsely serrate, dorsally glandular green leaves. In certain populations of V. reticulatum subsequent eophylls may retain such leaves for the life of the plant. Selfing and crossing experiments demonstrated that each of the three species is self-compatible, especially V. calycinum, where selfing produces more seeds than outcrossing. Cleistogamous flowers have also been observed in V. calycinum. Interspecific hybrids are viable and resemble two taxa described by Skottsberg

Restoration ecology: aiding and abetting secondary succession on abandoned peat mines in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada

The efficacy of using vegetative clumps derived from seeds with a variety of origins to establish nuclei for regeneration of bog vegetation on abandoned peat mines in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (Canada) was tested using seeds within scats (excrement) and seeds from berries, various techniques for creating clumps, and different clump sizes. Direct placement of scat pieces on peat in the field did not produce successful colonisation. Vegetative clumps begun in a greenhouse, whether from seeds extracted from scats or berries, were 60–100 % successful when transplanted into abandoned peat mines depending on the initial size of the transplant. Based on annual growth rate, Vaccinium oxycoccos has the greatest capacity to quickly colonise abandoned peat mines. Other promising taxa were Vaccinium vitis-ideae and the genus Empetrum