Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos (pronounced ark-toe-STAFF-ih-loss) is a genus of plants within the family Ericaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words 'arktos' meaning bear, and 'staphyle' meaning grape, referring to the common name of the plant, bearberry.
Description
Arctostaphylos species are evergreen shrubs or small trees with simple, leathery leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped, white or pink, and borne in small clusters. The fruit is a small, usually red berry.
Species
There are about 60 species of Arctostaphylos, including:
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry)
- Arctostaphylos pungens (Pointleaf manzanita)
- Arctostaphylos patula (Greenleaf manzanita)
Distribution and habitat
Arctostaphylos species are native to western North America, from British Columbia to California and east to Utah and New Mexico. They are typically found in chaparral and forest habitats.
Uses
Some species of Arctostaphylos, such as the bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), have been used in traditional medicine for their antibacterial and astringent properties.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Arctostaphylos
- Wikipedia's article - Arctostaphylos
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