Empetrum nigrum : Crowberry

Taxonomy

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Empetraceae (Crowberry Family)

Genera: Empetrum (Crowberry) (Gk. en=in + petros=rock; referring to its rocky habitat)

Species: nigrum (Lat. niger=black; referring to the colour of the berries)

Synonym(s): E.hermaphroditum

English Name(s):

Crowberry, Black Crowberry, Curlewberry

First Nation Names:

dineech'uh (blackberry)


Empetraceae (Crowberry Family): Family Triats

Description:

See species description

Natural History:

Only one species occurs in Canada. This family may only have one species world wide.

Family Size:

World:

Genera:

Species:

North America:

Genera: 1

Species:

Yukon:

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 1


Description

Structure:

  • Stamens (male parts) 3, extending well out of the flower.
  • Branches minutely glandular (with glands).
  • Depressed, matted, freely branching, shrub.
  • Sepals 3; Petals none or 3 or more; Both 2-3 mm long, and dark purple in colour.

Leaves:

Reproductive Parts:

Seed:

  • Fruit a berry, 6-9 mm in diameter, purpleish black, shiny, very juicy and sweet,

Not to Be Confused With:


    Biology

    Physiology:

    • In subspecies hermaphroditum the plants are polygamous. This means that both perfect (bisexual) and imperfect (unisexual) flowers are found on the same plant. All our E.nirgum (Crowberry) plants are of this subspecies.

    Life Cycle:

    Seasonal Cycle:

    • First berries ripe by mid-July.
    • Flowers appear in the spring, and are very short lasting.
    • Leaves evergreen.

    Ecology

    Animal Uses:

    • The berries provide a valuable winter food for birds and animals.

    Habitat:

    • Always on acidic soils.
    • Likes sandy, rocky sites.
    • Tundra, heathland swamps and bogs.

    Uses

    Modern:

    Industrial:

    Medicinal:

      Food:

        Traditional Gwich'in:

        Folklore:

          Industrial:

            Medicinal:

              Food:

                Traditional Other:

                Folklore:

                  Industrial:

                    Medicinal:

                      Food:

                        Images

                        Plant with many dead leaves


                        Leaves and berries


                        Illustration from: Illustrated Flora of BC


                        Range Maps

                        World Range: Circumpolar, wide-ranging; In N.A. from NL&LB to AK north to Ellesmere Island, south to NY, MN, and northern CA.

                        Prov/State Abrev. List


                        In Yukon: Found throughout the territory.

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