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Photographer: Eric J. Epstein
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Family Ericaceae
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.
bearberry, kinnickinnick
Arctostaphylos: from two Greek words arktos, "bear," and staphule, "a bunch of grapes," referring to the common name of the first-known species, and also perhaps alluding to bears feeding on the grape-like fruits
uva-ursi: old generic name meaning "bear's grape," ursi for "bear"
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | trailing/matting, perennial, 2"-6" tall shrub in mats to 40" wide |
| Flower: | whitish to pink, 5-parted, up to 1/4" long, urn-shaped; inflorescence an umbel-like cluster (raceme) of stalked flowers at the ends of the stem; blooms May-June |
| Fruit: | bright red, dryish berry with 5 crescent-shaped nutlets |
| Leaf: | alternate, entire, evergreen, leathery, flat and spoon-shaped, tapering to base, 1/3"-1 1/8" long |
| Habitat: | moist; bogs; in rocky, sandy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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