Designation = Evaluate WRA Score = 2 Family: Ericaceae Taxon: Vaccinium virgatum Synonym: Vaccinium amoenum Aiton Common Name: Rabbit-eye blueberry Vaccinium ashei J. M. Reade Southern black blueberry Questionaire : current 20090513 Assessor: Chuck Chimera Designation: EVALUATE Status: Assessor Approved Data Entry Person: Chuck Chimera WRA Score 2 101 Is the species highly domesticated? y=-3, n=0 n 102 Has the species become naturalized where grown? y=1, n=-1 103 Does the species have weedy races? y=1, n=-1 201 Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) - If island is primarily wet habitat, then (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2- High substitute "wet tropical" for "tropical or subtropical" high) (See Appendix 2) 202 Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2- High high) (See Appendix 2) 203 Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility) y=1, n=0 y 204 Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates y=1, n=0 n 205 Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2, ?=-1, n=0 ? 301 Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see n Appendix 2), n= question 205 302 Garden/amenity/disturbance weed n=0, y = 1*multiplier (see n Appendix 2) 303 Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed n=0, y = 2*multiplier (see n Appendix 2) 304 Environmental weed n=0, y = 2*multiplier (see n Appendix 2) 305 Congeneric weed n=0, y = 1*multiplier (see y Appendix 2) 401 Produces spines, thorns or burrs y=1, n=0 n 402 Allelopathic y=1, n=0 n 403 Parasitic y=1, n=0 n 404 Unpalatable to grazing animals y=1, n=-1 405 Toxic to animals y=1, n=0 n 406 Host for recognized pests and pathogens y=1, n=0 407 Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans y=1, n=0 n 408 Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems y=1, n=0 n 409 Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle y=1, n=0 410 Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island) y=1, n=0 n 411 Climbing or smothering growth habit y=1, n=0 n Print Date: 8/19/2011 Vaccinium virgatum (Ericaceae) Page 1 of 9 Designation = Evaluate WRA Score = 2 412 Forms dense thickets y=1, n=0 501 Aquatic y=5, n=0 n 502 Grass y=1, n=0 n 503 Nitrogen fixing woody plant y=1, n=0 n 504 Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers) y=1, n=0 n 601 Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat y=1, n=0 n 602 Produces viable seed y=1, n=-1 y 603 Hybridizes naturally y=1, n=-1 604 Self-compatible or apomictic y=1, n=-1 n 605 Requires specialist pollinators y=-1, n=0 n 606 Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation y=1, n=-1 607 Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 3 4+ years = -1 701 Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked y=1, n=-1 n areas) 702 Propagules dispersed intentionally by people y=1, n=-1 y 703 Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant y=1, n=-1 n 704 Propagules adapted to wind dispersal y=1, n=-1 n 705 Propagules water dispersed y=1, n=-1 706 Propagules bird dispersed y=1, n=-1 y 707 Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally) y=1, n=-1 n 708 Propagules survive passage through the gut y=1, n=-1 y 801 Prolific seed production (>1000/m2) y=1, n=-1 802 Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr) y=1, n=-1 803 Well controlled by herbicides y=-1, n=1 804 Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire y=1, n=-1 y 805 Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents) y=-1, n=1 Designation: EVALUATE WRA Score 2 Print Date: 8/19/2011 Vaccinium virgatum (Ericaceae) Page 2 of 9 Designation = Evaluate WRA Score = 2 Supporting Data: 101 1987. Roecklein, J.C./Leung, P. (eds.). A Profile [Is the species highly domesticated? Potentially] "The productivity of rabbit-eye of economic plants. Transaction Publishers, New blueberries has been greatly improved by selection and breeding." Brunswick, NJ 101 2006. Ballington, J.R.. Taxonomic status of [Is the species highly domesticated? Potentially. Certain cultivars may be highly rabbiteye blueberry and implications for its further domesticated] "The specific epithet of the rabbiteye blueberry has recently been improvement. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS). 715: 73- changed from Vaccinium ashei Reade to Vaccinium virgatum Aiton, based on 76.http://www.actahort.org/books/715/715_7.htm prior publication. As presently interpreted, V. virgatum is an extremely variable hexaploid species that occurs from South Carolina to Georgia and northern Florida and westward to east Texas and Arkansas. The hereditary background of V. virgatum is dominated by the genome of V. tenellum Ait., but also involves introgression from V. corymbosum, V. darrowi, and V. elliottii. Plant habit ranges from stoloniferous with stems 0.2m tall to crown-forming with stems 2+m tall, often within the same population. Leaves and fruit respectively range from nonglaucous and black to glaucous and blue. Taxa formerly designated as V. ashei likely are representative of more highly introgressed subpopulations within the overall range of the species. Hybrid progenies involving wild nonglaucous V. virgatum with glaucous-leaved and -fruited cultivated rabbiteye are fully fertile and segregate for the glaucous-leaved and -fruited trait. Trangressive segregation for early ripening is also common in such progenies, along with improved aromatic flavor. Genotypes from the northern end of the range have the potential to improve cold hardiness in future rabbiteye cultivars. Equally as important, this represents a large germplasm reservoir for broadening the germplasm base in a crop where the present base is extremely narrow. " 102 2011. WRA Specialist. Personal Communication. NA 103 2011. WRA Specialist. Personal Communication. NA 201 1931. Reade, J.M.. Vaccinium ashei sp. Nov. [Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) 2-high] [Species suited to Torreya. 31(3): 71-72. higher elevation areas of Hawaiian Islands] "The proposed species is common in western Florida and the adjacent portions of Georgia, especially near the coast, and extends west to Pearl River County, Mississippi, and as far east as Baker County, Florida. It grows in sandy or mucky soiled swamps, especially swamps of clear-water streams usually associated with water gum of small size, with slash pine, white bay, holly, titi, wax myrtle and azaleas." 202 1931. Reade, J.M.. Vaccinium ashei sp. Nov. [Quality of climate match data 2-high] [Species suited to higher elevation areas of Torreya. 31(3): 71-72. Hawaiian Islands] "The proposed species is common in western Florida and the adjacent portions of Georgia, especially near the coast, and extends west to Pearl River County, Mississippi, and as far east as Baker County, Florida. It grows in sandy or mucky soiled swamps, especially swamps of clear-water streams usually associated with water gum of small size, with slash pine, white bay, holly, titi, wax myrtle and azaleas." 203 2004. Dedej, S.. Bee Foraging Behavior and [Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)? Yes] "Rabbiteye blueberries Pollination Activity on Rabbiteye Blueberry are generally adapted better to regions around 32° latitude both north and south Vaccinium ashei Reade. PhD Dissertation. of equator, and they can grow well in higher altitudes." University of Georgia, Athens, GA 203 2011. Dave's Gardern. PlantFiles: PlantFiles: [Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)? Yes] "Hardiness:USDA Zone Rabbiteye Blueberry Vaccinium ashei 'Climax'. 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60953/ °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)" 204 1931. Reade, J.M.. Vaccinium ashei sp. Nov. [Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates? No] "The Torreya. 31(3): 71-72. proposed species is common in western Florida and the adjacent portions of Georgia, especially near the coast, and extends west to Pearl River County, Mississippi, and as far east as Baker County, Florida. It grows in sandy or mucky soiled swamps, especially swamps of clear-water streams usually associated with water gum of small size, with slash pine, white bay, holly, titi, wax myrtle and azaleas." 205 1988. Webb, C. J./Sykes, W.R./Garnock-Jones, [Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural P.J.. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV: range? Possibly] "The evergreen, V. ashei Reade, rabbits eye blueberry is also Naturalised pteridophytes, gymnosperms, cultivated and has been reported wild (P. de Lange, pers. Comm.)" dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch, New Zealand http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz Print Date: 8/19/2011 Vaccinium virgatum (Ericaceae) Page 3 of 9 Designation = Evaluate WRA Score = 2 205 2007. USDA. Importation of fresh highbush & [Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural rabbit-eye blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L & range? Possibly] "Recent commercial production of blueberries in Uruguay is V. virgatum Aiton) fruit into the Continental limited to highbush (V. corymbosum L.) and rabbiteye (V. virgatum Aiton)." United States from Uruguay. USDA Animal & [Uncertain how widespread V. virgatum cultivation is outside of native range] Plant Health Inspection Service, Raleigh, NC 205 2011. DeFrancesco, J./Murray, K.. Pest [Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural Management Strategic Plan for Blueberries in range? Possibly] "Various species of blueberries are grown commercially in the Oregon and Washington.