About Vaccinium reticulatum Sm.
Vaccinium reticulatum Sm., commonly known as ʻŌhelo ʻai, is a shrub that typically grows 0.1 to 1.3 meters (4 inches to 4 feet 3 inches) tall, and rarely reaches up to 2 meters (6 and a half feet). It has evergreen leaves that are arranged in a spiral pattern; the leaves are leathery, oval-shaped, and 1 to 3 centimeters (1/2 to 1 and 1/4 inches) long. Freshly emerging leaves are red, before maturing to green, or green with reddish patches. Its flowers are bell-shaped, 8 to 12 millimeters (3/8 to 1/2 inch) long, and have variable color, ranging from red to yellow or pink. Its berry is edible and flavorful. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) can be obtained via in vitro cell culture of V. pahalae.
