Empetrum nigrum

Black Crowberry, Crakeberry

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit, Twigs - tea 26,708 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Empetrum nigrum, the crowberry, black crowberry, mossberry, rockberry, or, in western Alaska, Labrador, etc., blackberry, is a flowering plant species in the heather family Ericaceae with a near circumboreal distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. The scientific name of the plant comes from the combination of the Greek for 'upon a rock' (en = upon + petros = rock) and the Latin for black (niger). North American Indigenous names for this species include asiavik (Iñupiaq), dineechʼúh (Gwichʼin), paurngaq (Inuktut), xéelʼi (Tlingít), xa skáawaa (Haida), and ts'nełt'ida (Dena’ina).

Description

A spreading heath like shrub. It grows 30 cm high. It spreads 38 cm wide. The branches hang down and are trailing. The stems have long woolly hairs. The leaves are short and needle-like. They are 6 mm long. The flowers are small and red and in clusters. The fruit are purple or black. They are 8 mm long. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible raw or cooked, though it can taste slightly acid or insipid and is best after a frost. Its watery flavour makes it most suitable for drinks, pies, and preserves. The Inuit dry or freeze the berries for winter use; they can also remain on the plant throughout winter. Fruit diameter is about 7.5mm. A tea can be brewed from the twigs.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh or cooked. The flavour of the berry improves after freezing. They are used in drinks, puddings, pies, jellies and ice cream. They are also made into wine. The fruit are usually only eaten in small quantities. They can be made into a drink with sour milk. The twigs are brewed into a tea.

Medicinal Uses

Leafy branches, especially for children with fever, have been used as a diuretic and to treat kidney problems. A decoction or infusion of the stems, or cooked berries, has been used for diarrhoea. A decoction of leaves and stems mixed with Hudson Bay tea and young spruce tips has been used to treat colds. A decoction of the roots has been used as an eyewash to remove a growth.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in open peaty soil. It grows in exposed locations in cool temperate regions. They are very cold hardy. They can grow in sun of semi-shade. It is tolerant of salt. It is tolerant of pollution. It suits hardiness zones 3-8.

Where It Grows

Alaska, Arctic, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, China, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Faroe islands, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, USA,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seed need 4 months of warm treatment then 2-3 months of cold treatment before they will germinate. Semi-ripe cuttings taken during summer will root in 3 weeks. They can also be grown from suckers. Plants need to be 30 cm apart.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Germination can be very slow; stored seed requires 5 months of warm stratification followed by 3 months cold stratification at 5°C. Prick seedlings into individual pots once large enough and grow on under glass for at least their first winter, planting out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3cm with a heel, taken July/August in a frame take about 3 weeks and give a good percentage. Cuttings of mature wood from the current year's growth, 3cm with a heel, taken in October in a shaded frame also give a good percentage.

Other Uses

A purple dye is obtained from the fruit. The plant can be used as ground cover in exposed locations, with plants spaced about 25cm apart each way.

Notes

They are also put in the family Empetraceae. The juice is rich in Vitamin C. They have health benefits.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	89	188	45	0.6	—	16.4	0.4	0.1

Also Known As

Ahzayahk, Akuvilqaq, Boneruk, Curlew berry, Dineech’uh, Kavlakuaraat, Krekling, Kukesilmad, Monox, Moss berry, Panak, Paunrat, Pownuk, Svinika, Tan'gerpiit, Varesemarja, Variksen marja, Varnavuoges, Vodianika, Voronika

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www.ediblewildfood.com