Empetrum rubrum

Red crowberry ( Empetrum rubrum)

The Red crowberry ( Empetrum rubrum ) belongs to the genus of the crowberry.

Description

The Red crowberry is a low, evergreen dwarf shrub. He attained stature heights of 10 to 50 cm and can form large mats. Stems and roots of woody fall. The small leaves are seated tightly on the shoot. The flowering time is in October. Male and female flowers are on different individuals; male flowers are dark red and maroon female flowers. The berries when ripe, can be dark red to hellorangerot ( from January).

Distribution and ecology

The plant occurs in the region of South America, in subalpine and alpine altitudes before (eg Patagonia), but also on the South Atlantic islands, such as the Falkland Islands, where they are processed into jam as diddle dee and available in souvenir shops.

The berries are a valuable winter food source for birds.

Use

In the Falkland Islands, the berries are collected like for jam and boiled or served as ingredients to make yogurt and cheese.

Swell

• A. Liddle (2007): Plants of the Falkland Islands. 96 S., Wild Guides, ISBN 978-0953837199.

• Heather plants