bearberry(redirected from hogberry)
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bearberry,any plant of the northern and alpine genus Arctostaphylos of the family Ericaceae (heathheath,
in botany, common name for some members of the Ericaceae, a family of chiefly evergreen shrubs with berry or capsule fruits. Plants of the heath family form the characteristic vegetation of many regions with acid soils, particularly the moors, swamps, and mountain slopes
..... Click the link for more information. family), especially A. uvaursi, a trailing evergreen sometimes cultivated as a ground cover. The small, leathery leaves yield a medicinal astringent and a dye. They were used for tobacco by the Native Americans, who also utilized the mealy red berries for food and beverages. This Northern Hemisphere genus is most abundant in arid areas, where many of the shrubby species (called manzanita in the West) are common chaparral plants. Other plants are also sometimes called bearberry. Bearberry is classified in the division MagnoliophytaMagnoliophyta
, division of the plant kingdom consisting of those organisms commonly called the flowering plants, or angiosperms. The angiosperms have leaves, stems, and roots, and vascular, or conducting, tissue (xylem and phloem).
..... Click the link for more information. , class Magnoliopsida, order Ericales, family Ericaceae.
Low growing ground cover shrub (only a few inches tall) with fine hairy bark, white or pink flowers, red berry and shiny plastic-like leaves. Dried leaves used as tea for urinary tract problems, gonorrhea, kidney stones and bronchitis. Astringent. Helpful for diarrhea and dysentery. Uva Ursi leaf contains powerful phytochemicals such as volatile oils, arbutin, quercitin, mallic and gallic acids. Arbutin is highly antibacterial and destroys bacteria and fungus that infect the urinary system such as E. Coli, Candida, Staph. Mallic and Gallic acids- the same as found in apples and ACV have long been used for kidney and bladder infections. Also used to lower excessive sugar in blood. Helps to take with a half teaspoon of baking soda in Uva Ursi tea. (Do not take baking soda if you have a weak stomach.) High level of tannins can produce stomach-ache, nausea and vomiting. Not recommended for children or people with kidney disease. Don’t take for more than a week or liver damage could result. Don’t take while pregnant.