Description

General - low, creeping herbaceous shrub; stalks grow to a height of 7.6-25 cm; stems unbranched, hairless, with 1-3 leaves at the top.

Leaves - alternate; roundish to kidney-shaped; leathery, on long leafstalks; margins with blunt teeth.

Flowers - single, white, 2-3 cm across,on a creeping rootlike stem, or rhizome; appearing in June and July.

Fruit - a yellow or amber-coloured, rasberry-like berry grows from the flower, quickly dropping from the stalk; ripening in late August and September.

Habitat

Circumpolar; native to the Arctic and subarctic regions of the north temperate zone; northern areas of NW Ontario's boreal forest.

Notes

Indigenous northern populations collect the sweet, juicy berries in autumn to freeze for winter food. In markets of northern Scandinavia, cloudberries are sold for use in preserves, tarts and other confections. They are also made into a liqueur.

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