Bearberries (indigenous kinnickinnick) are three species of dwarf shrubs in the genus Arctostaphylos. In spring, they have white or pink flowers.[2]. Bearberry appears to be relatively safe, although large doses may cause nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, back pain and tinnitus. Morphology: Evergreen ground cover, 6-12+ inches tall, branches root where they touch the soil, mat-forming. The finely textured velvety branches are initially white to pale green, becoming smooth and red-brown with maturity. [14], There are several cultivars that are propagated for use as ornamental plants. In English:kinnikinnick, mealberry, sandberry (many others, including: mountain-box, universe-vine, rapper-dandies, fox-plum, hog-crawberry, barren myrtle) Bearberries (indigenous kinnickinnick) are three species of dwarf shrubs in the genus Arctostaphylos. Additional Bearberry Facts: Bearberry is quite astringent, but it's a favorite of bears, which is where it gets its name. [10], Pegg, Ronald B.; Rybarczyk, Anna and Amarowicz, Ryszard (2008), Nordeng H. and Havnen, G.C. [4] Native Americans use bearberry leaves with tobacco and other herbs in religious ceremonies, both as a smudge (type of incense) or smoked in a sacred pipe carrying the smoker's prayers to the Great Spirit. [15][16], Historically, bearberry fruits and leaves were used by the Blackfeet Nation as food. For these uses, bearberry is taken as a … [3] The fruit are edible and are sometimes gathered as food for humans. This attractive and hardy plant is widespread in Canada, found in all provinces and territories and at various elevations, from sea level to sub-alpine. [11], Dried bearberry leaves are the main component in many traditional North American Native smoking mixes,[3][19] known collectively as "kinnikinnick" (Algonquin for "smoking mixture") used especially among western First Nations, often including other herbs and sometimes tobacco. These infections, which include, for example, cystitis, are very common, especially in women. 4 (For a description of the smoking mixtures described in the journals, see Smoking Mixtures.) [6] Each drupe contains 1 to 5 hard seeds, which need to be scarified and stratified prior to germination to reduce the seed coat and break embryo dormancy. As the name suggests, this small plant is a favorite of wildlife, especially bears, although it is quite astringent. [6], Terminal clusters of small urn-shaped flowers bloom from May to June. The fruit persist on the plant into early winter. [6] Numerous common names exist, depending on region, such as mealberry, sandberry, mountain-box, fox-plum, hog-crawberry, and barren myrtle.[3]. The plant's Family is Ericaceae. Uva-ursi is another name of the plant with the same meaning (bear's grape in Latin language). Bearberry family is the family in which it has some properties in common with other plants in that family. There are some 14 subspecies,[8] including: For a list of reported North American subspecies and varietals, see USDA Plants Profile. [13] Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaves contain arbutin,[14][15] which metabolizes to form hydroquinone, a potential liver toxin. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. [2][3][4] It is one of several related species referred to as bearberry.[2][5]. It is one of several related species referred to as bearberry. coactilis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ssp. [3][6][14], Teas and extracts of the leaves have been used in traditional medicine of First Nations people over centuries as urinary tract antiseptics, diuretics, and laxatives. It was also described by Clusius in 1601, and recommended for medicinal use in 1763 by Gerhard and others. [15] Uva ursi may cause adverse effects in people with liver or kidney disease, or pregnant and breastfeeding women. [6][7], The common name, kinnikinnick, is an Algonquin word meaning "smoking mixture". In vitro research supports its use as a urinary antiseptic. [2][6], "Chromatographic separation of tannin fractions from a bearberry leaf (, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arctostaphylos_uva-ursi&oldid=993793058, Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2019, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, in North America from arctic Alaska, Canada and, This page was last edited on 12 December 2020, at 14:56. Humans can eat it too, but it's more commonly used in traditional herbal medicine for bladder problems, urinary tract infections, and itchy scalps. [2] Kinnikinnick (First Nations for "smoking mixture") is a common name in Canada and the United States. Common name of bearberry cotoneaster is in reference to the fact that bears will feed on the berries in winter in parts of the U.S. ‘Coral Beauty’ is a cultivar which is primarily distinguished from species plants by having: (1) more compact habit; (2) leaves a bit shinier; and (3) … [10], Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is an alternate host for spruce broom rust.[11]. [6] They are alternately arranged on the stems. [14] Preliminary studies indicate that arbutin may be toxic when ingested in high doses. [11] The berries were used as seasoning and cooked with meat. The bearberry is a low-lying dwarf shrub, often forming dense mats, with leathery, glossy, small leaves. Great for groundcover. Bearberry is a creeping evergreen sub-shrub that is often found in the northern half of the United States. Each leaf is held by a twisted leaf stalk, vertically. Bearberries look like lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), although they are in no way related. A procumbent shrub 10-30 cm high. The Blackfeet Indian name for bearberry is kakahsiin; the Salish call the berries skw lsé. Flesh colors Uva ursi is native to Europe and is widely distributed in the arctic. The scientific name of Bearberry is the botanical name or formal name. Bearberry leaves are used in traditional medicine in parts of Europe, and are officially classified as a phytomedicine. Bearberry Scientific name. Bearberry, scientific name Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, is a plant of the Ericaceae family from which an important natural remedy is obtained able to treat urinary tract infections. Plant … Bearberry(Uva ursi) Quick Facts; Name: Bearberry(Uva ursi) Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi: Origin: Northern parts of North America, Europe and Asia. The name bearberry derives from the edible fruit said to be greatly enjoyed by bears. Common name: Bearberry, Foxberry, and Kinnikinic Genus: Arctostaphylos Species: uva-ursi Parts used: Bearberry is a low growing evergreen. Its specific name uva-ursi means "grape of the bear" in Latin (ūva ursī), similar to the meaning of the generic epithet Arctostaphylos ("bear grapes"). [2] The smooth, glossy skinned fruits range from 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (6 to 13 mm) in diameter. (2005) "Impact of socio-demographic factors, knowledge and attitude on the use of herbal drugs in pregnancy", "Inhibition of proliferation of human carcinoma cell lines by phenolic compounds from a bearberry-leaf crude extract and its fractions", "Chromatographic Separation of Tannin Fractions from a Bearberry-leaf (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi L. Sprengel) Extract by Se-hplc – a Short Report", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bearberry&oldid=978469836, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 September 2020, at 03:31. It first appeared in the London Pharmacopoeia in 1788. Often called uva-ursi, from the Latin uva, "grape, berry of the vine", ursi, "bear", i.e. Bearberry is a trailing evergreen shrub with dark green leaves, small white to pink flowers and red berries. any of several prostrate shrubs belonging to the genus Arctostaphylos, of the heath family, especially A. uva-ursi, having tonic, astringent leaves and bright-red berries. [8], The plant contains diverse phytochemicals, including ursolic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, some essential oils and resin, hydroquinones (mainly arbutin, up to 17%), tannins (up to 15%), phenolic glycosides and flavonoids. [1] In Canada, you can find them in the Northern Latitude forests, and they can are also found growing on gravel surfaces. [4] It is a fire-tolerant species and may be a seedbanking species. The bearberry grows in elevated locations in the entire northern hemisphere. Lingonberry’s stems are erect: bearberry is limply creeping and only the … [2][3][6] In the wild, the fruits are commonly eaten by bears. Bearberry. [5], The leaves are picked any time during the summer and dried for use in teas, liquid extracts, medicinal tea bags and tablets for traditional medicine uses. It has a stem that rises 2-8" off the ground and is covered in a thick bark and fine silky hairs. [6] The specific epithet, uva-ursi, comes from the Latin words uva (meaning grape) and ursus (bear), reflected by the bearberry nickname. [4], The berries ripen late in the year, and can be eaten raw. The genus name of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi comes from the Greek words arctos (meaning bear) and staphyle (meaning "bunch of grapes") in reference to the fruits which form grape-like clusters. The fruit, also called bearberries, are edible and sometimes gathered for food. [14] In herbalism, leaf tea is used to treat urinary tract inflammation. [4], The plant contains diverse phytochemicals, including ursolic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, some essential oils and resin, hydroquinones (mainly arbutin, up to 17%), tannins (up to 15%), phenolic glycosides and flavonoids. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a plant species of the genus Arctostaphylos widely distributed across circumboreal regions of the subarctic Northern Hemisphere. [3] It is an attractive year-round evergreen groundcover for gardens, and is useful for controlling erosion on hillsides and slopes due to its deep roots. Bearberry was first documented in The Physicians of Myddfai, a 13th-century Welsh herbal. ries. The small white to pinkish, bell-sha… "bear's grape". NAME(S): Bearberry / Kinnikinnick / Pinemat Manzanita // SCIENTIFIC NAME… It can be be found in Europe from the Iberian Peninsula over the whole of central Europe to Scandinavia. The trailing stems will layer, sending out small roots periodically. The leaves are dark green, leathery, shiny, ovate shaped, alternately arranged, and have entire margins. [2], The name "bearberry" for the plant derives from the edible fruit which is a favorite food of bears. However, there are no clinical trials demonstrating the safety, efficacy, or toxicity of its use. The leaves of the plant are used in herbal medicine. Older stems are brown. ... Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Bearberries can be used in human diet for the preparation of jellies, jams and sauces. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a plant species of the genus Arctostaphylos widely distributed across circumboreal regions of the subarctic Northern Hemisphere. The Medicinal Herb Info site was created to help educate visitors about the often forgotten wisdom of the old ways of treating illnesses. In fall, the leaves begin changing from a dark green to a reddish-green to purple, becoming pale on the underside. [18], Native Americans used the plant to make yellow dye. The fruit is a red berry. The Pawnee name for the whole plant is nakasis, meaning "little tree." Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Alternate Name(s): kinnikinnick Distribution: widespread across North America from Alaska south to California, Arizona, and New Mexico, east throughout Canada to the Dakotas, the Great Lake states, and New England states, and the Carolinas The simple leaves of this broadleaf evergreen are alternately arranged on branches. [6] It is tolerant of sun and dry soils, and is thus common groundcover in urban areas, in naturalized areas, and in native plant or rock gardens. The main purpose of having a scientific name is to have a same name accepted and used worldwide. [17] The fruits can be used to make jelly. The name of this herb means " bear-grape " in Latin, referring to the fact it is loved by bears, which is also reflected in the alternative name " bearberry." Unlike the other species of Arctostaphylos (see manzanita), they are adapted to Arctic and Subarctic climates, and have a circumpolar distribution in northern North America, Asia and Europe. Unlike the other species of Arctostaphylos (see manzanita), they are adapted to Arctic and Subarctic climates, and have a circumpolar distribution in northern North America, Asia and Europe. Kinnikinnick (First Nations for "smoking mixture") is a common name in Canada and the United States. In southern regions, the bearberry grows in mountainous areas, mostly above the tree line in northern areas it grows far down into the valleys. Alpine Bearberry - A. alpina (L.) Spreng (syn. [1] Furthermore, one can see from the images that they have a round shape to them as well. The latter part of its scientific name “ursi” refers to the Brown bear (Ursus arctos) whose summer and early autumn diet features bearberries. When mixed with tobacco or other herbs, it is referred to as kinnikinnick, from an Algonquian (probably Delaware) word for "mixture". Fruits are edible for humans, but are generally considered to be unpalatable. Scientific names: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Arctostaphylos coactylis, Arctostaphylos adenotricha Other common names: Arctostaphylos, bear’s grape, crowberry, foxberry, hogberry, kinnikinnick, manzanita, mountain box, rockberry, uva-ursi The common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. Sprengel) is a ubiquitous procumbent evergreen shrub located throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. It is commonly found in Europe, Asia, and North America. [9] New stems can be red if the plant is in full sun, but are green in shadier areas. Many of today's drugs and medicines were originally derived from natural ingredients, combinations of plants and other items found in nature. In scientific classification of Bearberry, Family is a main factor. [6] The leaves are evergreen, remaining green for 1–3 years before falling. Synonyms: Arctostaphylos adenotricha, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ssp. [6] Bearberries grow as low-lying bushes and these shrubs are green coloured year round. The small solitary three-scaled buds are dark brown. Among the ingredients in kinnikinnick were non-poisonous sumac leaves,[9] and the inner bark of certain bushes such as red osier dogwood (silky cornell),[9] chokecherry, and alder, to improve the taste of the bearberry leaf. [9], The leaves are shiny, small, and feel thick and stiff. Colors: Green when young turning to red to pink as mature: Shapes: Rounded, smooth, fleshy or mealy, berry-like fruits about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter that resembles a tiny apple. Mason Muller August 19, 2016 Medicinal plants and their uses No Comments. The leaves of the plant are used in herbal medicine. The common name of this plant in Spanish is gayuba. Undersides of leaves are lighter green than on the tops. It gives you the idea of how the plant looks, where the seed pod will be, what the seed will be like, etc. * FREE SHIPPING on any additional products from our store !!! Folk tales suggest Marco Polo thought the Chinese were using it as a diuretic. Bearberry is a low growing, evergreen shrub/ground cover species that grows about 20 cm tall. Erect branching twigs emerge from long flexible prostrate stems, which are produced by single roots. [2], Bears and other animals eat the berries. Scientific name of the plant "Arctostaphylos" means "bunch of bear's grape" in Greek language. What is Bearberry? The flowers are white to pink,[9] and bear round, fleshy or mealy, bright red to pink fruits called drupes. Tea made from the bearberry’s leaves and stems can be used as an herbal remedy for urinary tract disease and to relieve inflammation. Bearberry, which has the scientific name Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi, and is called by other names such as hogberry, rockberry, beargrape, kinnikinnik, manzanita, mealberry, red bearberry, Uva ursi, and wildcranberry is cultivated in Central and Northern Europe but is also abundant in North America.. Bearberry grows to a height of around 20 centimeters. It has spread east to Siberia, the Altai and the Himalayas. Bearberry’s scientific name is from ancient Greek and loosely means ‘stout-stemmed bear grapes’. Description As a low growing, drought tolerant evergreen groundcover, kinnikinnick or bear-berry as it is commonly referred to, is planted for its crisp foliage, white flowers, and red fall fruit. adenotricha, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ssp. Bearberry, also known as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, is a low-growing plant native to Asia, Europe, Central and North America.The herb gets its name from one of its biggest fans: bears love to eat the small red berries that grow on … It has … [14] Though thought to be an astringent[20] or cure for sexually transmitted diseases,[21][citation needed] as of 2017, there was no high-quality evidence from clinical research that such treatments are effective or safe. The leathery dark green leaves are an inch long and have rounded tips tapering back to the base. The distribution of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is circumpolar, and it is widespread in northern latitudes,[2][8][4] but confined to high altitudes further south: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a small procumbent woody groundcover shrub 5–30 cm (2–12 in) high. Uva ursi has been traditionally used to treat symptoms of mild urinary tract infections. [7] Cautions for use apply during pregnancy, breast feeding, or in people with kidney disease.[6][8]. The fruits are bittersweet when raw, but sweeter when boiled and dried. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi) plant medicinal uses. Arctous alpinus (L.) Niedenzu). Bearberry, Uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) (Linne), which takes its name from the fact that its berries are eaten by bears and other animals, is a low evergreen shrub common to the Northern countries of Europe and America . Scientific Name and Common Name; Kingdom: Plantae – Plants Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class [3][6] Native Americans and early pioneers smoked the dried uva-ursi leaves and bark alone or mixed with other herbs, tobacco or dried dogwood bark in pipes. Bearberry, (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), also called kinnikinnick, flowering prostrate evergreen shrubs of the heath family (Ericaceae), occurring widely throughout the northern reaches of Europe, Asia, and North America in rocky and sandy woods and in open areas. The efficacy and safety of bearberry treatment in humans remain unproven,[7] as no clinical trials exist to interpret effects on any disease. Description. [14], One review indicated that ingestion of large doses can cause allergic reactions, with nausea and seizures, as a potential emergency condition. Wild stands of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi can be dense, with heights rarely taller than 6 inches. [1] They are capable of surviving on soils predominantly composed of sand. Scientific name is the name conforming to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). Meet Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, also known as common bearberry or, to the Aboriginals, as kinickinick (sometimes spelled “kinnikinnick”). 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