The Vaccinieae are easily recognized because they possess a distinctive combination of synapomorphic features, i.e., anther tubules (char. #62, also found in parallel in a few Gaultherieae), an inferior ovary (char. #72; Fig. 29), and indehiscent, brightly colored fruits
(chars. #78, 82), i.e., usually berries, but drupes in Gaylussacia. It is worth noting that fleshy, colorful fruits (either drupes or berries) have also evolved in some Styphelioideae (i.e., Styphelieae), some Gaultherieae, Empetreae, and Arbutoideae (Fig. 30), likely in connection
with a shift from wind to bird dispersal. Generic relationships within Vaccinieae are very problematic (Kron et al., 1999a; Luteyn, 1996) and are currently being investigated by Kron and Luteyn.

genus: Vaccinium L.

Thibaudieae Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. Pl. 2: 564. 1876.
Vacciniiae Klotzsch, Monatsber. Königl. Preuss. Akad. Wiss.
Berlin 1857: 4. 1857 (as Vaccinieae).

Shrubs, small trees, or lianas, often epiphytic, evergreen or deciduous, with, non-ericoid entire or serrate leaves, convolute in bud. Leaf epidermal cells not lignified. Indumentum of short- to long-stalked glandular or non-glandular hairs. Inflorescence usually axillary, rarely terminal, paniculate, racemose or fasciculate, or solitary axillary flowers; bracts present, bracteoles usually paired, variable in position; calyx articulated with the pedicel or not. Flowers usually 4- or 5-merous, rarely 3 or 6-7-merous, actinomorphic. Calyx lobes small to large, persistent, the calyx winged or not; corolla almost always sympetalous, usually urceolate or tubular, sometimes winged, the lobes small to large; stamens 5—10(-14), the filaments ± straight, sometimes connate, unicellular pubescent, roughened, or smooth, sometimes spurred (with either one spur or, more commonly, a pair of spurs) on the anther-filament junction; anthers slightly to clearly roughened, usually lacking disintegration tissue, usually with tubules, dehiscing by pores or slit-like pores at the end of the tubules. Ovary (3-)4—5(-7)-locular, or 10-locular due to secondary division of each locule, with axile placentation, inferior; style impressed; stigma ± truncate. Fruit fleshy, a berry or 10-pitted drupe; seeds with short to elongate testa cells; embryo with 2 cotyledons.