Plant
Black Crowberry
Empetrum nigrumAlso known as Crowberry, Mossberry, Rockberry
Black crowberry is an evergreen dwarf shrub that carpets subarctic tundra, peat bogs, and windswept rocky heaths in dense, creeping cushions. Its needle-like leaves feature tightly curled margins that create a humid microchamber to prevent desiccation from harsh polar winds. In late summer, the mats produce abundant shiny black drupes that persist under the snowpack, serving as a vital cold-season caloric supply for arctic birds and mammals.
EvergreenArctic-AlpineDwarf Shrub
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
- Willow Ptarmigan
- Brown Bear
- Tundra Vole
ThreatsShrubification from warming climates, permafrost thaw, and tundra trampling
HabitatsArctic tundra, acidic peat bogs, coastal barrens, and alpine heaths
Life span20–50 years
Classification
- FamilyEricaceae
- SpeciesEmpetrum nigrum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Tread carefully: Step only on marked trails or bare rocks to avoid damaging fragile, slow-growing tundra mats.
- Look closely: Use a hand lens in late spring to spot the tiny, inconspicuous purplish flowers nestled in the leaf axils.
Frequent Companion (c) Valerii Glazunov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Valerii Glazunov · cc-by
Frequent Companion Qwert1234 / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Seed Disperser Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Inao Vasquez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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