Vaccinium oxycoccus Small cranberry (Ericaceae) Evergreen shrub

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Vaccinium oxycoccus
Small cranberry
Evergreen shrub
(1 Page of 5)

The Vaccinium oxycoccus plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Ericaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Small cranberry. Some home gardeners know the variety as Oxycoccus palustris. O. quadripetalus.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Vaccinium oxycoccus
Common Name:  Small cranberry
Family:  Ericaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  0.1   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  Acid boggy land[17].

Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 13, 17, 101, 171, 257]. Considered by some to be the most pleasantly-flavoured of British wild fruits[11]. The fruit is high in pectin[172], this means that it can be mixed with fruits that are low in pectin to help them set when making jam[K]. Pectin has also been shown to have a valuable role in the diet, where it is said to protect the body against radiation[201]. An acid taste, the fruits are usually cooked in preserves etc[183, 200]. Although smaller than the related V. macrocarpon, the fruit of this species is considered to be of superior taste[183]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[200]. A tea is made from the leaves[13, 257].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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