Vaccinium oxycoccus

Vaccinium oxycoccus is a species of cranberry of the subgenus Oxycoccus, and part of the family Ericaceae. The plant is native to northern Asia, Europe, and North America. It is a low-growing, trailing plant with slender, wiry stems that are not thickly woody and have small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with a purple central spike.

Description

Vaccinium oxycoccus is a small, trailing, perennial shrub that grows up to 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall. The leaves are evergreen, oval to lanceolate, 5–10 mm long and 2–4 mm broad, with a leathery texture. The flowers are solitary or in pairs, nodding, with a pink corolla. The fruit is a small berry 9–14 mm diameter, dark red when mature, edible, with an acidic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.

Distribution and habitat

Vaccinium oxycoccus is native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, in Europe, Asia, and North America. It grows in acidic bogs and marshes and is often associated with sphagnum mosses.

Uses

The berries of Vaccinium oxycoccus are harvested for use in jams, jellies, sauces, and as a flavoring for various beverages, including tea and cocktails. They are also used in traditional medicine for the treatment of urinary tract infections.

See also

• Cranberry
• Vaccinium macrocarpon
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea

External links

• ITIS Standard Report Page: Vaccinium oxycoccus
• NCBI Taxonomy Browser, Vaccinium oxycoccus

Vaccinium oxycoccus Resources
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