Arctostaphylos rubra : Red Bearberry

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Genera: Arctostaphylos (Bearberry) (Gik. arcto=bear + staphyle=berry; referring to the fact that bears enjoy these berries)

Species: rubra (Lat. ruber=red; referring to the colour of the berries)

English Name(s):

Red Bearberry,

First Nation Names:

dzhii ndee' (Gwichya), shin jak (Teetl'it)

Structure:

• Prostrate or trailing often mat-forming shrub.
• Branches erect.

Leaves:

• Simple (not compound or lobed).
• Leaves alternate.
• 2-5cm long, oblanceolate to spatulate-ovate in shape.
• Glabrous (hairless) leaves and petioles (leaf stalks).

Reproductive Parts:

• Flowers perfect (bisexual) and regular (symetrical).
• Calyx (sepals) 5-parted.
• Flowers in terminal (at the top) racemes or clusters.
• Flowers with united petals and bell-shaped.
• Ovary with 5 locules (chambers).
• Stamens (male parts) 10.
• 2-3 flowers appearing early in spring before the leaves unfold.
• Flowers yellowish-green becoming white.

Seed:

• Fruit is a drupe (berry like).
• Nutlets 2.5-3.0mm long.
• Drupes deep red or scarlet, very juicy.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Arctostaphylos alpina (Black Bearberry) is very simmilar but differs in having back drupes (berries), slighly shorter stems, and persistent withered leaves.

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Drupes (berries) ripening around late July.
• Flowers appearing before the leaves unroll.
• Leaves deciduous (falling off) and not persistent.
• Leaves turn a birght red in the autumn.

Animal Uses:

• Bears and ravens are fond of these berries.
• Many other animals probably enjoy them also.

Habitat:

• Mossy places in open coniferous woodland, peaty soils, and rocky tundra.
• Usually at lower elevations than A.alpina.

Modern:

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