Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. nevadensis (L.) Spreng.
kinnikinnick (common bearberry; mealberry; sandberry)
Ericaceae (Crowberry family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Larry Halverson     (Photo ID #57379)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Prostrate shrub with somewhat stoloniferous rooting stems, sometimes forming mats several meters wide; bark reddish to brownish, peeling off; stems ascending at the tip, 5-15 cm tall, minutely hairy, sometimes glandular.
Leaves:
Alternate, evergreen, leathery, egg- to spoon-shaped, 1-3 cm long, 0.3-1.2 cm wide, rounded at tip, rarely pointed, narrowed basally, entire, glabrous to minutely hairy especially on the margins and midrib, dark green above, paler below; stalks 2-5 mm long.
Flowers:
Several in few-flowered terminal clusters; flower stalks 2-5 mm long, straight or curved, borne in the axils of hairy bracts; corollas pinkish-white, urn-shaped, 4-6 mm long, 5-lobed; calyces 1-1.5 mm long.
Fruits:
Berries, bright red, 5-10 mm wide.
Notes:
In 1974, Packer and Denford reviewed the classification of infraspecific taxa, found it to be inadequate, and proposed that four subspecies and two varieties be recognized. Two of the subspecies were new taxa, not previously described. The taxa were based on the type of hairiness found on the young branches and stalks, chromosome numbers, and phenolics. All four subspecies occur in BC, but are not geographically distinct. We have, therefore, decided not to recognize these taxa until further work is done on the taxonomy and distribution of these entities in BC.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Purple
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Red
Present from Summer to Fall
According to the USDA, this species is a known allelopath.
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1129 6 2854
Slope Gradient (%)
23 0 244

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

192 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
5666
Modal BEC Zone Class
IDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

AT(42), BAFA(22), BG(17), BWBS(321), CDF(6), CMA(2), CWH(92), ESSF(497), ICH(472), IDF(1759), IMA(10), MH(10), MS(909), PP(190), SBPS(464), SBS(502), SWB(87)

Habitat and Range

Dry forests and exposed, often rocky, sites in the lowland to lower alpine zones; common throughout BC; circumboreal, N to AK, E to NF and S to N CA, NM, MN, and VA; Eurasia.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Arctostaphylos adenotricha (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) A. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor
Arctostaphylos nevadensis var. coloradensis (Rollins) Harrington
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. adenotricha (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) Calder & Roy L. Taylor
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. coactilis (Fernald & J.F. Macbr.) A. Löve & D. Löve
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. coloradensis (Rollins) J.B. Roof
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. longipilosa Packer & Denford
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. monoensis J.B. Roof
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. myrtifolia (Parry) J.B. Roof
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. stipitata Packer & Denford
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. uva-ursi
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. adenotricha Fernald & J.F. Macbr.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. coactilis Fernald & J.F. Macbr.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. leobreweri J.B. Roof
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. marinensis J.B. Roof
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. pacifica Hultén
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. saxicola J.B. Roof
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. stipitata (Packer & Denford) Dorn
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. suborbiculata W. Knight
Uva-Ursi uva-ursi (L.) Britton