Page 142 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Bearberry, Arctostaphylos

uva-ursi (ERICACEAE)

BEARBERRY, Uva Ursi or Kinnikinnik is a dwarf shrub
that sprawls along the ground in carpets. Its woody
stems can grow 5-6 ft. (1.8m) long and 8 inches (20cm)
Walter Siegmund, CC-BY-SA-3.0
high. Bearberry thrives in rocky, sandy areas such as
slopes, hilltops, and river edges.

FLOWER AND FRUIT: Flowers bloom in April-July.
Shaped like tiny puckered urns, they are white or pink
with rosy tips. In late summer, round ruby-red fruits ap-
pear, 0.2-0.5 inches (0.5-1cm) wide.
Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0A-4.0
LEAF: 0.8-2.5 inches (2-6cm) long, dark evergreen Agnieszk a K wiecień, C C-B Y - S Walter Siegmund, CC-BY-SA-3.0
leaves are thick and rubbery with very smooth edges. substitute. Bearberries will last longer than blueber-
Foliage takes on a rusty color in the fall and winter. ries and raspberries when stored in cool tempera-
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit, leaves tures. For a traditional alternative to drying, store
bearberries in oil or lard.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: It has diuretic, astringent, and
antiseptic properties. Leaves are used to treat bladder BEARBERRY POPCORN: Wash and stem berries.
and kidney infections. Coat skillet with oil and put over a low heat fire. Ber-
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Pick as they ripen in late ries will pop like popcorn. Eat while they’re hot and
crispy. For extra flavor, sprinkle with cinnamon.
summer and fall. Those that persist on the plant into the
winter are also suitable for harvesting. Fruits are edible WARNING: Eating very large doses of bearberries
raw, but tend to be dry, mealy, and bitter. For a better may cause nausea, vomiting, fever, back pain, and tin-
taste, cook or dry. Berries make a delicious jelly, can be nitus. Best to be avoided by pregnant or breast-feed-
used as a seasoning for red meat, or as a cranberry sauce ing women.

Beautyberry, Callicarpa
americana (LAMIACEAE)

BEAUTYBERRY is a deciduous shrub found in light
woodland areas and thickets. It can grow up to 6 ft.
(1.8m) tall with long bowing branches.

FLOWER AND FRUIT: Flowers grow in compact bunch-
es and may be white, pink, or lavender with extruding
yellow stamens. Purple fruits with a pearl-like sheen ap-
pear in autumn. They grow in tight round clusters and
persist after the leaves have fallen. Each fruit is 0.08-0.2
inches (0.2-0.5cm) wide.
LEAF: Leaves may be ovate to elliptic, with pointed tips Katja Schulz, CC-BY-2.0
and serrated edges. They grow up to 10 inches (25cm)
cause mild stomach aches.
long and are arranged in opposite pairs. Undersides of
BEAUTYBERRY CUSTARD: Pour 5 cups of berries
young leaves are coated with branched hairs. Foliage
into a large pot with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil
turns yellow in autumn.
while mashing the berries with a spoon. Strain juice
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit
into a bowl through 2 layers of cheesecloth. Add 3
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Freshly crushed leaves are ap- cups of sugar and 1 envelope of sure-jell pectin. Let
plied to the skin as an insect repellent. simmer, continuing to stir until dissolved. In a second
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Berries can be eaten raw, bowl, stir 3 tbsp. cornstarch into a small amount of
being juicy and slightly astringent. Pick fruits when they water. Mix in one can of condensed milk and 3 egg
are entirely purple. Beautyberries should only be con- yolks. Pour mixture into beautyberry juice. Heat and
sumed in small amounts, as they have been known to stir until the mixture thickens.
141