Crowberry

Crowberry

Crowberry Empetrum nigrum is rather like heather in its growth form and crowded needle-like leaves. Its tiny flowers grow in the leaf axils and each has three pinkish petal-like sepals and three stamens. The fruit is a berry that is black when mature. This low spreading plant grows on rocks and open peaty soil in North America. There are fewer than 10 species in the small Crowberry Family (Empetraceae). [CH] {GW}