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NAME: Bog Cranberry

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Vaccinium Oxycoccos / Ericaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  small cranberry, swamp cranberry

CONDITIONS: sun-partial shade, moist or wet soils
 

PARTS:

EDIBLE cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

TASTE

RAW/COOK

SEASON

All

 

 

 

 

Shoots

 

 

 

 

Leaves

       

Stalk/Stem

 

 

 

 

Buds

       

Flowers

 

 

 

 

Fruits

cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

tart/acid

RAW/DRY/COOK

Fall

Pods

 

 

   

Seeds

 

 

 

 

Nuts

 

 

 

 

Roots

 

 

 

 

Bark

 

 

 

 

 

PORTION: small-medium

 

COMMENT: Fruit - raw or cooked. Considered by some to be the most pleasantly-flavoured of British wild fruits. The fruit is high in pectin, this means that it can be mixed with fruits that are low in pectin to help them set when making jam. Pectin has also been shown to have a valuable role in the diet, where it is said to protect the body against radiation. An acid taste, the fruits are usually cooked in preserves etc. Although smaller than the related V. macrocarpon, the fruit of this species is considered to be of superior taste. A tea is made from the leaves.

 

CAUTION:  Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disturbances with large amounts. Seek professional advice if suffering from kidney disease before using.(1)

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  Antiemetic. An infusion of the plant has been used to treat cases of slight nausea. Treatment for urinary infections - cystitis, and scurvy.(1)

·        https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-958/cranberry

·        https://draxe.com/cranberries

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES: Cleanser;  Dye. The juice of the fruit is used to clean silver. A red dye is obtained from the fruit. Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 1 metre apart each way. Plants rapidly form a dense carpet when they are thriving.(1)

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Vaccinium+oxycoccos
  2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/get-your-annual-vaccinium-every-year-2
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_oxycoccos
  4. https://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2018/11/wild_cranberries_in_pennsylvan.html
  5. https://ouroneacrefarm.com/2013/10/23/cranberries-from-the-wild
  6. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_vaox.pdf
  7. https://www.financialforager.com/foraging-for-wild-cranberries
  8. http://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2013/10/wild-cranberries-identified.html
  9. https://neveragoosechase.com/2018/10/05/foraging-cranberries
  10. https://wildfoodism.com/2014/11/19/the-simple-guide-to-locating-identifying-and-harvesting-wild-cranberries-or-any-wild-food-using-these-6-steps