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Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.

Bearberry, kinnikinnick

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderEricalesTea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
FamilyEricaceaeHeath or heather family
GenusArctostaphylosFrom arkto, “bear,” and staphyle, “grape,” because bears like the berries
Speciesuva-ursiLiterally means “bear’s grape” referring to the fruit

About plant names...

Bearberry is a hardy low-growing evergreen shrub that does not exceed six inches in height. “Uva-ursi” means “bear’s grape”: bearberry is favored by bears and many birds. It is native to North America, Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Siberia, and the Himalayas.

Identification: These plants’ dark green shiny leaves and red, hard berries about ¼" (6.3 mm) in diameter resemble cranberries, but they are not related to them. Bearberry leaves look a little like a shoehorn, wider at one end than at the other, while cranberry leaves are about the same size at both ends and mountain cranberry has sharper tips. Flowers are white, tinged with pink.

Edibility: I couldn’t find toxicity information, but at least one site recommended against eating these berries.

Online References:

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi at Botanical.com

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi on Wikipedia

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi on Blue Planet Biomes

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Arctostaphylos uva ursi

Arctostaphylos adenotricha (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) A. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. ssp. coactilis (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) A. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor

Uva-Ursi uva-ursi (L.) Britton

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. var. adenotricha Fernald & J.F. Macbr.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. ssp. adenotricha (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) Calder & Roy L. Taylor

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. var. coactilis Fernald & J.F. Macbr.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. ssp. longipilosa Packer & Denford

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. var. leobreweri J.B. Roof

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. var. marinensis J.B. Roof

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. ssp. monoensis J.B. Roof

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. var. pacifica Hultén

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. ssp. stipitata Packer & Denford

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. var. stipitata (Packer & Denford) Dorn

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. var. suborbiculata W. Knight

Arctostaphylos adenotricha (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) A. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. ssp. coactilis (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) A. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor

Uva-Ursi uva-ursi (L.) Britton

Arctostaphylos adenotricha (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) Á. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. ssp. coactilis (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) Á. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor

Uva-Ursi uva-ursi (L.) Britton nom. inval.

 

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 24 Aug 2021.

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Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry, kinnikinnick)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm)

Range:

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