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Crowberry Facts

Crowberry Facts
Crowberry is an evergreen shrub that belongs to the heather family. It originates from the northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America. Crowberry can be also found on the Falkland Islands in the southern hemisphere. It thrives in subarctic and arctic areas. Crowberry grows in the moist mountains, on the rocky, slightly acidic soil, in the shade. Increase in winter temperature alters metabolism and intensity of photosynthesis of this plant. People cultivate crowberry as a source of food, as a ground cover and in ornamentals purposes (as a part of rock gardens).
Interesting Crowberry Facts:
Crowberry is low shrub that can reach only 10 inches in height. It forms dense mat on the ground.
Crowberry has narrow, simple leaves. Their sides are curled backwards. Leaves are light green in color and alternately arranged on the stem.
Crowberry sheds its leaves every 2 to 4 years. Leaves are covered with glands that produce toxic substances. When they fall to the ground and start to decompose, leaves release toxins into the soil and prevent growth of other, competing plant species (toxic substances ensure successful growth of crowberry in the wild).
Crowberry produces small, individual purple flowers during the summer. Crowberry is dioecious plant, which means that each shrub produces either male or female flowers. One subspecies of crowberry produces flowers with both types of reproductive organs (bisexual or perfect flowers).
Fruit of crowberry is black, purple or red berry-like drupe. Fruit ripens in the fall and remains on the shrub until the spring.
Crowberry propagates via seed, cuttings and bare root.
Crowberry is rich source of dietary fibers, vitamins C and K and minerals such as manganese and copper.
Crowberries have slightly acidic and bitter taste. They are rarely consumed fresh. Crowberries are mostly used for the preparation of pies, jams, jellies, ice-creams, juices and wine.
Crowberries are staple food for Inuit, Sami and Tanaina (indigenous people that inhabit arctic and subarctic areas). They usually consume crowberries mixed with lard.
Fruit, leaves and root of crowberry are used in folk medicine in treatment of epilepsy and nervous disorders, paralysis and anthrax, kidney stones, abnormal menstrual bleeding, dysentery, acne, conjunctivitis and fever. Certain commercially available medicine such as Empetrin (manufactured in Russia) contain crowberries.
Crowberries are used in the cosmetic industry for the manufacture of beauty products.
Entire plant can be used as a source of yellow, green and brown pigments that are used for dyeing of textile and food. Crowberries are most commonly used in this purpose.
Crowberry was used for the preparation of brooms and pan scrubbers in the past.
Crowberry is used for smoking fish in Labrador.
Crowberry is perennial plant that can survive more than 20 years in the wild.


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