Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum
Mountain Crowberry
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Empetrum genus in the family Empetraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Empetraceae
- Genus
- Empetrum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked[6]. A watery flavour, it is mainly used for making drinks, pies, preserves etc[4]. The Inuit dry or freeze them for winter use[4]. The fruit is about 4mm in diameter[5]. A tea can be made from the twigs[4].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Tea
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants can be used for groundcover in exposed locations[5].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Northern Europe, including Britain, mountains in southern Europe, Greenland, Canada and Siberia.
- Habitat
- On mountain tops and moors, mostly at high altitudes but down to sea level in the far north of its range[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be very slow to germinate, stored seed requires 5 months warm then 3 months cold stratification at 5°c[5]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Takes 3 weeks. Good percentage[7][5]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 3cm with a heel, October in a frame. Requires shade. Good percentage[7][5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A calcifuge plant, it is easily grown in a moist lime-free peaty soil[1][3][5]. Unlike most members of this genus, this species is hermaphrodite and self-fertile[4]. There has been some confusion over the name of this plant. Some authorities refer to it as E. hermaphroditum and others include it in E. nigrum or E. eamesii[5].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00