Vaccinium praestans

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Ordo: Ericales

Familia: Ericaceae
Subfamilia: Vaccinioideae
Tribus: Vaccinieae
Genus: Vaccinium
Sectio: V. sect. Myrtillus
Species: Vaccinium praestans
Name

Vaccinium praestans Lamb., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 10: 264 (1811).
Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: Russian Far East
Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin
Regional: Eastern Asia
Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu).

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Lambert, A.B. 1811. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. London 10: 264, t. 9.

Links

Hassler, M. 2020. Vaccinium praestans. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2020. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 May 29. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Vaccinium praestans in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 May 29. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Vaccinium praestans. Published online. Accessed: May 29 2020.
Tropicos.org 2020. Vaccinium praestans. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 May 29.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Vaccinium praestans in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 2020 May 29.

Vernacular names
English: Kamchatka bilberry
русский: Красника

Vaccinium praestans or Vaccinium praestans - Lamb. or Kamchatka bilberry, is a perennial shrub in the family Ericaceae, which includes species like cranberries, blueberries, and huckleberries. In Russia this plant is known as the Klopovka, or stink-bug berry, due to its distinct, potent scent, resembling that of a secretion produced by bugs of Heteroptera genus. The plant is native to Kamchatka but can be found in North America to Eastern Asia. Mostly growing in the wild, it is also enjoyed as an ornamental plant, most commonly in Japan, where it is used to decorate home gardens. Like many other species in the family Ericaceae, its berries are edible.

Description

Vaccinium praestans is a herbaceous, slow growing perennial shrub, that can grow up to 20 cm (7.9 in) tall in an average growing season. The bark of the stem is a yellowish, gray color and grows almost horizontal with the ground.[1] It has small leafy branches, approximately 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) in length, that extend out, away from its stem. Its leaves are shaped either obovate or orbicular around the head and then taper to a narrower base. These leaves are fairly thin but stiff, usually 2–6 cm long and are serrulate around the edge.[2] The leaves are known to change color several times a season, from bright green to a purple-red color The Vaccinium praestans flowers in June–July. Its flowers range from pinkish-white to pink in color with yellowish corollas, and are5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) in length. Later in summer It will fruit a delicious, juicy bright red berry, that can grow up to 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) in diameter.[3][2] It is referred to as "the stinkbug berry" due to its characteristic, very pronounced odor that resembles the smell of bugs.
Vaccinium praestans berries
Distribution

The plant is native to Kamchatka, Eastern Russia.[4] It ranges from Northern America to Eastern Asia, in spruce, fir and deciduous forests.[5][6] It is found in higher elevations and slopes, growing in mossy bogs, marshes and swampy woods, often off of rotting fallen tree trunks.[7] It is endemic to the Mountain Taiga region of Primorye, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk Region, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands (Kunashir, Shikotan, Etorofu Simushir, Uruppu Keta), Honshu, and Hokkaido.[1]
Ecology

Vaccinium praestans is a hardy plant that can grow in harsh cold climates. However, it requires shelter from strong winds and needs insulation from snow and leafs to protect its roots in freezing temperatures. It is best suited for slightly sandy, loamy soils. It also prefers moderately moist, mesic soils with a high acidity, ranging in PH from 4.5 to 6.[8] It can quickly become chlorotic if lime is present in the soil, which means it won't produce enough chlorophyll and its green leaves will become a pale yellow to yellow-white color.[9][10] It also does not like root disturbances or stagnant water at the roots, preferring moist, yet well drained soils but can not tolerate drought.[1] The plant can grow in semi-shady conditions, but fruits best when in full sunlight.
Reproduction

It flowers hermaphroditic flowers in June–July that are pollinated by bees. Otherwise new plants can be raised from seed.
Cultivation

This plant is commonly grown in home gardens as an ornamental plant, especially for decorative ground cover, which also fruits a delicious berry as a bonus. In order to grow it from a seed, it is advised to plant the seeds in late winter in a pot, and just barely cover them in dirt. Seeds may require three months of cold to stratify. They are known to germinate very slowly, taking up to a year to sprout. Once seedlings are 3 cm (1.2 in) tall, the pot should be placed in a greenhouse in a lightly shaded area for its first winter. After that, it should be ready to be planted in a permanent location, usually in late spring or early summer, after last expected frost. In climates with cold winters roots must be protected from freezing, and it is commonly done by covering the plant under a pile of leaves before the coming of cold season.[9]
Taxonomy

Vaccinium praestans is a part of the family Ericaceae, which includes species like cranberries, blueberries, and huckleberries. Ericaceae is a family of flowering plants known to be a part of the heath or heather family, usually found growing in acidic and considered infertile soil conditions. The word "Vaccinium" means "huckleberry" in Latin and the word "praestans" means "excellent" or "outstanding".[11]
Chemical constituents

The berry contains ascorbic (70–100 mg%) and benzoic acids, rich in flavonoids and other P-active compounds, also tannins and various microelements. Under- and overripe berries have significantly lower percentage of useful chemical components.
Culinary and Medicinal uses

The berries this plant fruits are known for their ambiguous flavor, which however dissipates when the berries are boiled. The berries can be eaten raw, and exhibit peculiar gustatory characteristics: they are first sweet and then sour, then fade to a bitter, but salty aftertaste. In the confectionery industry, these berries are used in making jellies and jams, preparations of marmalade, soft drinks, and pastries.

The berry juice improves digestion and possesses tonic properties. It also helps alleviate common cold and flu. The plant and its berries find use in folk medicine, believed to help with prostate hypertrophy, fever, paralysis, edema, gout, and is used to treat hypertension, due to its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure. However, the berries can cause severe allergic reactions not only though ingestion but also through smell alone.[1]
History of Lamb

The name “Lamb.” in the scientific name, Vaccinium praestans Lamb. is an unresolved name, meaning it is not established as either an accepted name or as a synonym with original publication details.[12] Lamb. is the standard botanical author abbreviation or scientific name, applied to species Aylmer Bourke Lambert described. Lambert lived from 1761 to 1842 and was a British botanist who studied at St Mary Hall, Oxford, in England.[13] Lambert is responsible for assembling an important herbarium collection with 50,000 preserved plant specimens and even now his specimens can be found in botanical collections around the world.[14] However, after Lambert's death, his herbarium collections and library were auctioned off, which has led to obscurities in its history and may be why the use of "Lamb." is unresolved.[15]
References

"KAMCHATKA BILBERRY".
"medicinal herbs: KAMCHATKA BILBERRY - Vaccinium praestans". www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
"kamchatka_bilberry_vaccinium_praestans.htm". www.fruitipedia.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-24. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
"Vaccinium praestans Lamb. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". powo.science.kew.org. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
"Vaccinium praestans Kamchatka Bilberry PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
"Klopovka (berry): medicinal properties and reviews - Acikgunluk". acikgunluk.net. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
Fern, Ken (1997). Plants for a Future: Edible & Useful Plants for a Healthier World. Permanenet Pubns. ISBN 1856230112.
"Kamchatka Bilberry (Vaccinium praestans) - Garden.org". garden.org. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
"Vaccinium praestans Kamchatka Bilberry PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
"Chlorosis | Focus on Plant Problems | U of I Extension". extension.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
"Vaccinium definition | Latin Dictionary". www.latin-dictionary.org. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
"Vaccinium praestans Lamb. — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
"IPNI Author Details". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
1921-1997, Stafleu, Frans A. (Frans Antonie); S., Cowan, Richard (1979). Taxonomic literature. v. 2 (1979) [Authors H-Le]. Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema. ISBN 9789031302246.
Miller, Hortense S. (1970). "The Herbarium of Aylmer Bourke Lambert: Notes on Its Acquisition, Dispersal, and Present Whereabouts". Taxon. 19 (4): 489–553. doi:10.2307/1218947. JSTOR 1218947.