Vaccinium exaristatum Kurz

Shrubs or small trees, evergreen, (1–)3–5(–14) m tall. Twigs obscurely lenticellate, densely pubescent, glabrescent; bud scales inconspicuous. Leaves scattered; petiole 2–3 mm, densely pubescent; leaf blade drying pale brown or straw-colored on both surfaces, elliptic, oblong-ovate, or oblong-lanceolate, 3–7.5 × 1.1–3 cm, leathery, both surfaces pubescent on midvein, otherwise glabrous or adaxially pubescent, secondary veins 4 or 5 pairs, fine veins raised abaxially, ± flat adaxially, base cuneate to rounded, margin plane, dentate, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescences racemose, 3–10 cm, usually pubescent, many flowered; bracts caducous, ovate or broadly ovate, 2.5–3 mm. Pedicel 1–3.5 mm, pubescent or glabrous. Hypanthium 0.8–1 mm, pubescent or glabrous; calyx lobes triangular or suborbicular, 0.8–1.2 mm, sometimes densely ciliate. Corolla pink, tubular, 6–8 mm, glabrous; lobes erect or reflexed, triangular or oblong. Filaments ca. 1.8 mm, pilose; anthers ca. 3.5 mm, without or with inconspicuous spurs; tubules 2–3 × as long as thecae. Berry 10-pseudoloculed, red to dark purple, 4–5 mm in diam. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. May–Jun.

W Guangxi, S Guizhou, S Yunnan [Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

Sparse forests, shrubby slopes; 500–1500(–2000) m.