Kinnikinnick Facts
- The somewhat difficult term of Kinnikinnick serves as the most frequently used common name for this beautiful variety of woody plant. The flora does have a few other names by which it’s known, though. These options include such titles as pinemat manzanita and bearberry.
- Inside the scientific community, however, it’s more typically referred to by its technical moniker. As often happens, though, that’s a very hard name for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because the marvel of Nature and evolution holds the title of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi.
- This particularly tongue-twisting common name comes directly from the language of a Native American nation living in its region. The ancient Algonquian People long knew of and utilized the marvelous flora. By any of these terms, however, it’s a very impressive little beauty.
- As mentioned above, the alternate term of bearberry applies to several other species as well. This often creates a moderate degree of confusion. That state arises due to the fact that an amazing 14 known subspecies of the Angiosperm exist. In many instances, their areas overlap.
- Forunately, the beautiful Kinnikinnick seems to be maintaining a population base that’s both stable and sufficient. That pleasant condition also appears to hold true throughout its range. The IUCN thus lists it as Least Concern on its published Red List of Threatened Species.
- Neveretheless, the wonder of Nature faces several potential threats to its continued existence as a species. These dangers mainly include human created conditions. Those perils include habitat degradation and loss. Its greatest, though, likely comes from climate change.
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Kinnikinnick Physical Description
The intriguing Kinnikinnick almost immediately appeals visually to most people fortunate enough to encounter it. Yet it does so principally due to its beauty and colorsalone. That’s because, regardless of other factors, it’s a small member of its Family. Nature doesn’t care about such things.
Individual specimens develop as small, ground-hugging shrubs. The height of each separate plant varies significantly, however. This tendency naturally holds true in different parts of its range, but even occurs among separate examples in close proximity. The exact reason remains a small mystery.
Overall, though, individual examples attain vertical measurements ranging from only 2 – 12 in (5 – 30 cm). But, as a general principle, this stunning flora rarely exceeds 6 in (15 cm) in height. The intriguing Angiosperm makes up for this, though, by typically growing in extremely dense clusters.
The botanical wonder produces long, flexible stems from single roots. From these, numerous branching twigs develop, usually growing vertically. These start out displaying either a pale green or white color. As each of these mature, their color changes to reddish-brown, with a smooth texture.
The leaves of the dazzling Kinnikinnick remain small, averaging only 1.5 in (4 cm) in length. Each also averages roughly 0.5 in (1 cm) in width. The upper side of each displays a shiny dark green shade. Meanwhile, the underside shows a lighter hue. These feel thick and stiff in nature.
Yet it’s the flowers and fruits that typically catch the most attention. The gorgeous blooms develop in clusters, and develop a urn-shape. Each varies in color from white to light pink. Its tiny fruits range in diamater from 0.25 – 0.5 in (0.6 – 1.3 cm). They remain on the plant until early winter.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Tracheophytes
- Class: Eudicots
- Order: Ericales
- Family: Ericaceae
- Genus: Arctostaphylos
- Species: A. uva-ursi
Kinnikinnick Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The breathtaking Kinnikinnick evolved as native to an extraordinarily broad swathe of the globe. The full extent of that range might surprise some people, though. That’s true since it possesses a circumpolar distribution, appearing throughout most of the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Within the borders of North America, it lives in Alaska, Canada, and much of the United States. It’s especially prevalent in the Appalachian Mountains. In Asia, the plant grows from Siberia to Turkey and through the Himalayas. Meanwhile, in Europe, the marvel grows from Iceland to Greece.
This marvelous creation of Nature also developed as highly versatile and adaptable in its choice of habitat. It therefore appears in a wide range of environmental conditions. The remarkable product of nature and evolution does demonstrate a clear preference for moderate temperatures.
Due to that pattern, it typically only appears at higher altitudes in the more northerly part of its natural range. Other than that, it most commonly grows in portions of temperate forest regions. Yet it also feels at home even in urbanized areas. It’s commonly seen in parks and rock gardens.
The gorgeous Kinnikinnick typically blooms between the months of May and June across most of its range. An impressive variety of insects pollinate the species, including various locally prevalent bees. It even serves as a vital food source for numerous types of animals, including deer and bears.
Native Americans frequently consumed its fruits as well. They also used its dried foliage for smoking. Young leaves were also often used to make a form of tea. Various parts of the plant also played a prominent role in local herbal medicines. Other parts even serve as a source of dyes.
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