Empetrum nigrum, crowberry,[3]black crowberry, mossberry, or, in western Alaska, Labrador, etc., blackberry, is a flowering plant species in the heather family Ericaceae with a near circumboreal distribution in the Northern Hemisphere.
Empetrum nigrum is a low growing, evergreen shrub with a creeping habit.[4] The leaves are 3–6 millimetres (1⁄8–1⁄4 inch) long, arranged alternately along the stem. The stems are red when young and then fade to brown. It blooms between May and June.[5]
It is usually dioecious. The flowers are small and not very noticeable,[4] with greenish-pink sepals that turn reddish purple.[6] The round fruits are drupes, 4–6mm (1⁄8–1⁄4in) wide, usually black or purplish-black but occasionally red.[7]
Empetrum nigrum subsp. hermaphroditum – a monoecious[9]tetraploid subspecies (sometimes considered its own species)[10] occurring further north and at higher altitudes.[11][12]
Evolutionary biologists have explained the striking geographic distribution of crowberries as a result of long-distance migratory birds dispersing seeds from one pole to the other.[16]
The metabolism and photosynthetic parameters of Empetrum can be altered in winter-warming experiments.[18]
Empetrum nigrum has allelopathic properties (e.g. hampering seed germination and root extension of other plants) but the strength of these are dependent on the soil type. [19]
Uses
The fruit is edible and can be dried,[20] and may have an acidic taste. In the Alaskan tundra, it is known to have a sweet and slightly tart flavor. It is often mixed with other berries in dishes like pies and puddings.[17]
It is abundant in Scandinavia and treasured for its ability to make liqueur, wine, juice, or jelly. In subarctic areas, the plant has been a vital addition to the diet of the Inuit and the Sami.[citation needed] It is used to make Alaskan ice cream.[17] The Dena'ina (Tanaina) harvest it for food, sometimes storing in quantity for winter, sometimes mixed with lard or oil.[citation needed]
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