Herbs Guide

Cranberry

Family Name: Ericaceae

Botanical Name(s): Vaccinium macrocarpon

Popular Name(s): American cranberry, bear berry, mountain cranberry

Parts Used: The fruits

Habitat: Cranberry is found in cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Description: Cranberries are dwarf evergreen shrubs. The creeping shrubs grow to a height of 2 m. The stems are slender, not thickly woody and possess small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink in colour, having very distinct reflexed petals. The style and stamen are fully exposed and point forward. The berries are the fruits of the herb which are initially white but turn to deep red in colour on ripening.

Uses: Cranberries are used as jelly and it is often known as cranberry sauce. Cranberries are a source of polyphenol antioxidants which benefits the cardiovascular system and immune system. It is also used in spinal paralysis. It is believed that Cranberry is antibacterial, antifungal in action and acts as an antioxidant. It is assumed that Cranberries reduce the rate of urinary tract infections.