Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
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- 1. Description
- 1.1 Growth
- 1.2 Obtainment
- 2. Uses
- 2.1 Medicinal
- 3. More
- 4. 'Souls
Common Name | Lingonberry, cowberry |
Latin Name | Vaccinium vitis-idaea |
Icon(s) | |
"Tyttebær" |
1. Description
Vaccinium vitis-idaea spreads by underground stems to form dense clonal colonies. Slender and brittle roots grow from the underground stems. The stems are rounded in cross-section and grow from 10 to 40 cm (4 to 16 in) in height. Leaves grow alternately and are oval, 5–30 mm (0.2–1.2 in) long, with a slightly wavy margin, and sometimes with a notched tip. The flowers are bell-shaped, white to pale pink, 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, and produced in the early summer. The fruit is a red berry 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) across, with an acidic taste, ripening in late summer to autumn.
Vaccinium vitis-idaea keeps its leaves all winter even in the coldest years, unusual for a broad-leaved plant, though in its natural habitat it is usually protected from severe cold by snow cover.
1.1 Growth
This plant grows best in boreal forests.
1.2 Obtainment
Common -- native.
- Grows abundantly in Seabreeze Brink
2. Uses
- Dye:
- Leaves and stems = yellow
- Fruit = purple
- Edible: Sour, slightly sweet, slightly bitter fruit
2.1 Medicinal
In folk medicine, V. vitis-idaea has been used as an apéritif, astringent, antihemorrhagic, anti-debilitive, depurative, disinfectant/antiseptic (especially for the urethra), a diuretic, a tonic for the nervous system, and in various ways to treat breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, and various urogenital conditions.
- The berries can be preserved by putting them whole into bottles of water. This was also a home remedy against scurvy. In Russian folk medicine, lingonberry water was used as a mild laxative.
3. More
4. 'Souls
- Hey, did your character do something cool with this plant?
- Or maybe your pack has it for trade?