Empetrum

Empetrum is a small genus of evergreen shrubs in the heath family (Ericaceae), commonly known as crowberries. The genus includes several species, the most widespread being Empetrum nigrum (black crowberry); Empetrum rubrum (red crowberry) occurs in southern South America and some subantarctic regions. Plants are low and creeping, typically 10–40 cm tall, and form dense mats. They have tough, evergreen leaves that are small, narrow, and leathery. Flowers are inconspicuous; in many species the male and female flowers are borne on separate plants (dioecious). The fruit is a small, spherical berry that ripens to black or dark purple; berries are edible but very astringent when fresh and are more often consumed by birds or processed into jams in traditional preparations.

Distribution and habitat: Empetrum has a circumpolar distribution in cool temperate and polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including boreal Eurasia and North America. A southern counterpart, E. rubrum, occurs in Patagonia and on some subantarctic islands. The genus commonly occupies heath, bog, and tundra-like habitats, where it forms a dense evergreen ground cover and contributes to soil stabilization and plant community structure.

Ecology and cultivation: Berries serve as a winter food source for birds and small mammals. In cultivation, Empetrum species are sometimes grown as ornamental ground covers in cool, acidic soils. They tolerate poor, acidic soils and exposed conditions but prefer moist, well-drained sites. The genus is valued for its hardiness and evergreen foliage in appropriate climates.