A creeping, evergreen shrub, growing to 15 cm (6 in), with dark-green, leathery, small, oval leaves. Terminal clusters of tiny, white or pink, bell-shaped flowers appear in summer, followed by red fruit.
History and traditions
The generic name from the Greek, arcton staphyle, and the specific, uvaursi, from the Latin, both mean “bear’s grapes”, perhaps because bears enjoyed the fruit, or perhaps because the sour taste of this plant was only thought fit for consumption by bears. It is listed in 13th-century herbal manuscripts and was described in detail by the 16th-century Dutch botanist Clusius (Charles de L’’Ecluse). In the 17th century John Josslyn discovered this herb growing in North America, where many of the Native American tribes made use of its medicinal properties and added it to smoking mixtures. He found it to be highly effective against scurvy. It was considered medicinally important in 18th-century Europe, and remained so into the 20th century, appearing in the British Pharmacopoeia.
Culinary
Although the berries are edible, they taste extremely sharp, and are more suitable as “grouse feed”, (a use given in one herbal). The leaves were at one time a popular tea in Russia.
Growth
Needs moist, sandy or peaty soil. Ericaceous compost (soil mix) must be used if container-grown and for propagating, which can be done from seed, by layering in spring or from cuttings, taken with a heel, in summer.
Parts used
Leaves usually dried. For commercial use they are collected from the wild, mostly in Scandinavia and Russia, field cultivation having proved too costly.
Uses
Medicinal
Constituents include arbutin and methylarbutin, which have been established as effectively antibacterial, especially against urinary infections, such as cystitis.
General
The leaves have a high tannin content and have been used in the past in leather tanning and to produce a dark-grey dye.
