Empetrum rubrum, known as red crowberry or diddle-dee (Chilean Spanish: Murtilla de Magallanes), is a species of plant in the heath family, Ericaceae.
| Red crowberry | |
|---|---|
| |
| Red crowberry growing in the Falkland Islands | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Empetrum |
| Species: | E. rubrum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Empetrum rubrum | |
| Forms; Subspecies; Varieties | |
|
E. r. f. falklandicum | |
Distribution and habitat
editThe species is distributed in Chile from Talca (35°S) to Cape Horn (55°S), in areas of adjacent Argentina, in the Falkland Islands, and in Tristan da Cunha. One of its northernmost natural growing places is Laguna del Maule.
In Chile, it often grows in high-altitude areas close to the tree line and can tolerate alpine conditions such as strong winds and high sun exposure. In the Falkland Islands, it is the dominant species across large areas of lowland and upland dwarf shrub heath.
Uses
editIts fruits are edible.[5][additional citation(s) needed]
In culture
editIt is referenced in the Falkland Islands' unofficial national anthem.
Gallery
edit-
Close up of Empetrum rubrum in Navarino Island, Tierra del Fuego. -
Empetrum rubrum from Torres del Paine National Park
.jpg)
References
edit- ^ In: Species Plantarum. Editio quarta 4(2): 713. 1806. "Name - Empetrum rubrum Vahl ex Willd". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
- ^ A description for the falklandicum form was published in: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 47: 517 1926
- ^ a b Descriptions for subspecies eamesii and variety atropurpureum were published in: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 47(317): 519 1927
- ^ Cronquist published var. eamesii in: Man. Vasc. Pl. N.E. U.S. (2nd. edition) 864 1991
- ^ Michail Belov. "Description and images of Empetrum rubum". ChileFlora. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
 | This Ericaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |