Empetrum nigrum : Crowberry

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

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

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Empetraceae (Crowberry Family)

Genera: Empetrum (Crowberry) (Gk. en=in + petros=rock; referring to its rocky habitat)

Species: nigrum (Lat. niger=black; referring to the colour of the berries)

Synonym(s): E.hermaphroditum

English Name(s):

Crowberry, Black Crowberry, Curlewberry

First Nation Names:

dineech'uh (blackberry)

Description:

See species description

Natural History:

Only one species occurs in Canada. This family may only have one species world wide.

Family Size:

World:

Genera:

Species:

North America:

Genera: 1

Species:

Yukon:

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Structure:

• Stamens (male parts) 3, extending well out of the flower.
• Branches minutely glandular (with glands).
• Depressed, matted, freely branching, shrub.
• Sepals 3; Petals none or 3 or more; Both 2-3 mm long, and dark purple in colour.

Leaves:

• About 5 mm long.
• Leaves alternate or whorled, linear to narrow eliptical. Evergreen.

Reproductive Parts:

• Flowers can be perfect (bisexual) or imperfect (unisexual).
• Flowers inconspicuous, solitary in leaf axils.
• Ovaries superior (above recepticle), 2-several locules (cavities).

Seed:

• Fruit a berry, 6-9 mm in diameter, purpleish black, shiny, very juicy and sweet,

Not to Be Confused With:

Physiology:

• In subspecies hermaphroditum the plants are polygamous. This means that both perfect (bisexual) and imperfect (unisexual) flowers are found on the same plant. All our E.nirgum (Crowberry) plants are of this subspecies.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• First berries ripe by mid-July.
• Flowers appear in the spring, and are very short lasting.
• Leaves evergreen.

Animal Uses:

• The berries provide a valuable winter food for birds and animals.

Habitat:

• Always on acidic soils.
• Likes sandy, rocky sites.
• Tundra, heathland swamps and bogs.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: