View source for Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

{{Taxobox
| image              = Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 25924.JPG
| image_caption      = 
| regnum             = [[Plantae]]
| unranked_divisio   = [[Angiosperms]]
| unranked_classis   = [[Eudicots]]
| unranked_ordo      = [[Asterids]]
| ordo               = [[Ericales]]
| familia            = [[Ericaceae]]
| genus              = ''[[Arctostaphylos]]''
| species            = '''''A. uva-ursi'''''
| binomial           = ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Spreng.]]
| status             = G5
| status_system      = TNC
| status_ref         = <ref name=natureserve>{{Cite web
  | publisher =NatureServe
  | title = Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
  | work = NatureServe Explorer
  | url = http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=arctostaphylos+uva-ursi
  | accessdate = 2018-07-18}}</ref>|
}}

[[File:Baerentraube ML0002.jpg|right|thumb|''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' flowers]]
[[File:Bearberry Flower.jpg|thumb|Arcostaphylos uva-ursi flowers in pink]]
[[File:Common bearberry ("Kinnikinnick", Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) - fruits and leaves.JPG|right|thumb|''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''uva-ursi'' fruit]]
[[File:Arctostaphylos_uva-ursi_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-013.jpg|right|thumb|''Arctostaphylos uva ursi'' from Koehler's 'Medicinal-Plants' (1887)]]
'''''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi''''' is a plant species of the genus ''[[Arctostaphylos]]'' (manzanita).  Its common names include '''kinnikinnick''' and '''pinemat manzanita''', and it is one of several related species referred to as '''[[bearberry]]'''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Casebeer |first=M. |date=2004 |title=Discover California Shrubs |location=Sonora, California |publisher=Hooker Press |isbn=0-9665463-1-8}}</ref>

Its [[specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''uva-ursi'' means "grape of the bear" in Latin ({{lang|la|{{wt|la|ūva}} {{wt|la|ursus|ursī}}}}), just like what the [[generic epithet]] ''Arctostaphylos'' means in Greek ("bear-grape").<ref>{{cite book|last=Wells|first=Philip V.|title=The Manzanitas of California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jC5FAQAAIAAJ|year=2000|publisher=University of Kansas|location=Lawrence, KS|isbn=978-0-933994-22-5|page=13|quote = The name ''Arctostaphylos'' is from Greek: ''{{transl|grc|arctos}}'' = bear, ''{{transl|grc|staphylos}}'' = bunch of grapes or berries; hence bearberry, pertaining redundantly to ''A. uva-ursi'' (Latin: ''{{lang|la|uva}}'' = berry, ''{{lang|la|ursi}}'' = of the bear).}}</ref>

== Distribution ==
The distribution of ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' is circumpolar, and it is widespread in northern latitudes, but confined to high altitudes further south: 
* in Europe, from [[Iceland]] and [[North Cape, Norway]] south to southern [[Spain]] ([[Sierra Nevada (Spain)|Sierra Nevada]]); central [[Italy]] ([[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]]) and northern [[Greece]] ([[Pindus]] mountains); 
* in Asia from arctic [[Siberia]] south to [[Turkey]], the [[Caucasus]], the [[Levant]] and the [[Himalaya]]; 
* in North America from arctic Alaska, Canada and [[Greenland]], south to [[California]], north coast, central High [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] (above [[Convict Lake]], [[Mono County|Mono County, California]]), [[Central Coast of California|Central Coast, California]], [[San Francisco Bay Area]], to [[New Mexico]] in the [[Rocky Mountains]]; and the [[Appalachian Mountains]] in the northeast United States.

In some areas, the plant is endangered or has been [[Local extinction|extirpate]]d from its native range. In other areas, such as the [[Cascade Range]], it is abundant.

==Description==
''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' is a small procumbent woody [[groundcover]] shrub {{cvt|5|-|30|cm|0}} high. The [[leaves]] are [[evergreen]], remaining green for 1–3 years before falling. The [[fruit]] is a red [[berry (botany)|berry]].

The leaves are shiny, small, and feel thick and stiff. They are alternately arranged on the stems. Undersides of leaves are lighter green than on the tops. New stems can be red if the plant is in full sun, but are green in shadier areas. Older stems are brown. In spring, they have white or pink flowers.

Pure stands of ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' can be extremely dense, with heights rarely taller than 6 inches. Erect branching twigs emerge from long flexible prostrate stems, which are produced by single roots. The trailing stems will layer, sending out small roots periodically. The finely textured velvety branches are initially white to pale green, becoming smooth and red-brown with maturity. The small solitary three-scaled buds are dark brown.

The simple leaves of this broadleaf evergreen are alternately arranged on branches. Each leaf is held by a twisted leaf stalk, vertically. The leathery dark green leaves are an inch long and have rounded tips tapering back to the base. In fall, the leaves begin changing from a dark green to a reddish-green to purple.

Terminal clusters of small urn-shaped flowers bloom from May to June. The perfect flowers are white to pink, and bear round, fleshy or mealy, bright red to pink fruits called [[drupe]]s. This smooth, glossy skinned fruit will range from {{convert|1/4|to|1/2|inch|mm|0|abbr=out}} in diameter. The fruit will persist on the plant into early winter. Each drupe contains 1 to 5 hard seeds, which need to be [[scarified (botany)|scarified]] and [[stratified (botany)|stratified]] prior to [[germination]] to reduce the seed coat and break embryo dormancy. There is an average of 40,900 cleaned seeds per pound.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_aruv.pdf |title=Plant Fact Sheet: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) |publisher=USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Materials Program |date=31 January 2002}}</ref>

==Subspecies==
There are at least five reported [[subspecies]]:
* ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''uva-ursi''. '''Common bearberry'''; circumpolar arctic and subarctic, and in mountains further south.
* ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''adenotricha''. Central high [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]].
* ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''coactilis''. North coastal California, central coast California, [[San Francisco Bay Area]].
* ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''cratericola'' {{small|(J. D. Smith) P. V. Wells}}. '''Guatemala bearberry''', [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to [[Guatemala]] at very high altitudes (3000&ndash;4000&nbsp;m). 
* ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''longifoliosa''. Various reports from Canada, U.S.A.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Elven |editor-first=Reidar |url=http://nhm2.uio.no/paf/741001 |title=Pan-arctic Flora}}</ref>  May be the same as ''adenotricha'' or ''coactilis''.

Sources do not agree on the list of subspecies, so some of these may be identical, or may be separate species rather than subspecies. See [[bearberry]] and [[manzanita]]. For a list of reported North American subspecies and [[varietal]]s, see ''USDA Plants Profile'' in "[[#External links|External links]]" below. For a complete list of related plants see ''[[Arctostaphylos]]''. 
: (''Further research needed to clarify botanical classification''.)

==Chemistry and traditional medicine==

''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' leaves contain the [[glycoside]] [[arbutin]] which [[metabolism|metabolizes]] to form [[hydroquinone]], a potential [[hepatotoxic|liver toxin]].<ref name="ijt">{{cite journal|pmid=24296864|year=2013|author1=De Arriba|first1=S. G|title=Risk assessment of free hydroquinone derived from ''Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi'' folium herbal preparations|journal=International Journal of Toxicology|volume=32|issue=6|pages=442–53|last2=Naser|first2=B|last3=Nolte|first3=K. U|doi=10.1177/1091581813507721}}</ref> Although bearberry [[extract]]s have been used in [[traditional medicine]] in belief the treatment alleviates [[urinary tract infection]]s,<ref name=ijt/> there is no high-quality evidence from [[clinical research]] that such treatment is effective or safe as of 2018.

==Uses==
Historically, it was used by the [[Blackfeet Nation]] as food.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians|last=Hellson|first=John C.|publisher=National Museums of Canada|year=1974|isbn=|location=Ottawa|pages=101}}</ref>

===Smoking===
Bearberry is the main component in many traditional North American Native smoking mixes,<ref>{{Cite book | author = Moerman, Daniel E. | chapter = ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' | title = Native American ethnobotany | pages = 87–88 | isbn = 0-88192-453-9 }}</ref> known collectively as "[[kinnikinnick]]" ([[Algonquin language|Algonquin]] for a mixture). Bearberry is used especially among western [[First Nations]], often including other herbs and sometimes [[tobacco]].{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

===Cultivation===
There are several [[cultivar]]s that are propagated for use as [[ornamental plant]]s. It is an attractive evergreen [[Groundcover|plant]] in [[garden]]s, and is useful for controlling [[erosion]]. It is tolerant of sun and dry soils and is thus common [[groundcover]] in urban areas.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARUV USDA Plants Profile: ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'']
* [http://medplant.nmsu.edu/ursi.shtm Medicinal Plants: ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'']
* [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bearbe22.html Bearberry description and use]
* [http://www.magic-plants.com/arctostaphylos-uva-ursi.html Encyclopedia Ethnobotanica]
{{Arbutoideae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q208032}}

[[Category:Arctostaphylos|uva-ursi]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of North America]]
[[Category:Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands]]
[[Category:Plants of continental subarctic climate]]
[[Category:Native American culture]]
[[Category:Smoking in the United States]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Asia]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Europe]]
[[Category:Garden plants of North America]]
[[Category:Groundcovers]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]