A NOTE ON VACCINIUM BRASSII SLEUMER (ERICACEAE), RECORDING FILAMENTOUS WAX ON THE FLOWERS

Abstract

Routine identification of historical Vaccinium specimens at E revealed scurfy deposits on a specimen identified as Vaccinium brassii Sleumer. On examination with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), these scurfy deposits turned out to be filamentous wax remarkably similar to that observed in Vaccinium ceraceum Argent. The disparity of the geographical locations of these two species is noted, together with the lack of molecular data to give insights into the evolutionary relationships.