1.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
(Linnaeus) Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 287. 1825.
Bearberry, kinnikinnik, bousserole, raisin d'ours
Arbutus uva-ursi
Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 395. 1753;
Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi
subsp.
adenotricha
(Fernald & J. F. Macbride) Calder & Roy L. Taylor;
A. uva-ursi
var.
adenotricha
Fernald & J. F. Macbride;
A. uva-ursi
subsp.
coactilis
(Fernald & J. F. Macbride) Á. Löve, D. Löve & S. L. Kapoor;
A. uva-ursi
var.
coactilis
Fernald & J. F. Macbride;
A. uva-ursi
var.
leobreweri
Roof;
A. uva-ursi
subsp.
longipilosa
Packer & Denford;
A. uva-ursi
var.
marinensis
Roof;
A. uva-ursi
subsp.
monoensis
Roof;
A. uva-ursi
var.
pacifica
Hultén;
A. uva-ursi
subsp.
stipitata
Packer & Denford;
A. uva-ursi
var.
stipitata
(Packer & Denford) Dorn;
A. uva-ursi
var.
suborbiculata
W. Knight
Shrubs,
prostrate, mat-forming, 0.1-0.5 m; burl sometimes present, sometimes epicormic; twigs usually sparsely short-hairy, sometimes long-hairy or short and/or long glandular-hairy.
Leaves
separated proximally, overlapping distally, bifacial; petiole 2-4 mm; blade light green abaxially, dark green adaxially, shiny, usually oblanceolate to obovate, sometimes narrowly elliptic, 1-2.5 × 0.5-1.5 cm, base cuneate (not clasping), margins entire, often cupped, surfaces smooth, sparsely puberulent, glabrescent
. Inflorescences
racemes (simple or 1-branched); immature inflorescence pendent, (congested), axis 0.3-1 cm, 1+ mm diam., usually sparsely short-hairy, sometimes long-hairy or short glandular-hairy; bracts not appressed, scalelike, narrowly deltate, 2-6 mm (larger than buds), apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous.
Pedicels
2-4 mm, glabrous.
Flowers:
corolla white to pink, urceolate; ovary glabrous.
Fruits
globose, 6-12 mm diam., glabrous.
Stones
distinct.
2
n
= 26, 52.
Flowering winter-early summer. Coastal dunes, open, acidic temperate and boreal forests, high montane on acidic, sandy, or rocky soils; 0-3100 m; Greenland; St. Pierre and Miquelon; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.Dak., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.Dak., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., Wis., Wyo.; Central America (Guatemala); Eurasia.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
exhibits great variation in indument associated with the young twigs. Most of this variation has historically been separated into subspecies, except that a recent analysis of the group suggested environmentally-based variation in these characters (T. J. Rosatti 1987b). This is the most widely distributed of all
Arctostaphylos
species and is the only one found outside of North America. Two ploidy levels are common, and populations sometimes contain both diploids and tetraploids. More work on this widespread species will likely elucidate its variation in morphology and ploidy. Infraspecific taxa may well be recognized once these patterns are further assessed.
A form with striking deep red to purple autumnal corollas (often blooming also in spring with normal-colored corollas) occurs on Cape Cod and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
Most populations lack burls and are killed by fire; throughout the range in North America are occasional populations or individuals that have small, sometimes epicormic burls. This has been noted in California, parts of Canada, and New York. With more observations this distribution may become clearer.
A form with somewhat puberulent and larger leaves has been described as
Arctostaphylos
×
media
Greene. It occurs along the northern California coast and in Oregon and Washington. It is assumed to be a hybrid between
A. uva-ursi
and
A. columbiana
. Similarly, in the Rocky Mountains in areas with both
A. uva-ursi
and
A. patula
, hybrids have been called
A. coloradensis
Rollins.
SELECTED REFERENCE Rosatti, T. J. 1987b. Field and garden studies of
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
(Ericaceae) in North America. Syst. Bot. 12: 61-77.
