large cranberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American cranberry
• large cranberry
• Cramberry
• Wild Cranberry
• fenberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oxycoca macrocarpa
• Vaccinium oblongifolium
• Oxycoca berberidacea
• Schollera macrocarpon
• Vaccinium macrocarpon f. eburnea
• Oxycoccus macrocarpos
• Vaccinium macrocarpon var. intermedium
• Vaccinium oxycoccos var. oblongifolium
• Oxycoccus palustris var. macrocarpos

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales and the family Ericaceae, it is classified under the genus Vaccinium. As part of this taxonomic hierarchy, Vaccinium macrocarpum is identified by its specific botanical lineage.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found within the territory of Great Britain. Its presence extends into Middle Europe, where it inhabits Belgium. Furthermore, the species is distributed across Germany and the Netherlands. Finally, its range reaches into the mountainous landscapes of Switzerland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Vaccinium macrocarpon is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a chamaephyte, its regenerative buds are located close to the soil surface, which helps the plant navigate its environmental conditions. While its physiological traits can exhibit specific adaptations to its habitat, it is categorized under the life form of a chamaephyte, ensuring its survival through seasonal cycles. Regarding its foliage, the plant is characterized as evergreen, maintaining its leaf structure throughout the year to support its long-term developmental processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vaccinium macrocarpum is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as a liana or vine, nor does it function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 1 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 1.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

1.3 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vaccinium macrocarpon is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is the standard carbon fixation mechanism for most temperate woody shrubs. The plant is strictly non-carnivorous, relying on its root system and soil nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey for nitrogen or other essential minerals. Furthermore, its leaf morphology and resource allocation are reflected in a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 124 cm²/g, indicating a moderate investment in leaf thickness and structural density relative to its surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

124 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vaccinium macrocarpon is driven by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and continues through August. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects with a strong preference for bees to facilitate fertilization; notably, self-fertilization is absent, necessitating these external pollinators. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit characterized as a berry. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents. The seeds produced are extremely small, with a consistent mean, minimum, and maximum mass of approximately 0.00082 g. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where the seeds are dispersed after being ingested by animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00082 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000824 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vaccinium macrocarpon has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed.

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Vaccinium macrocarpon has 106 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Ursolic acid, quercetin, Proanthocyanidin, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

Anthocyanins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of biopharmaceutical sciences
4. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. International journal of biopharmaceutical sciences
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. International journal of biopharmaceutical sciences
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Proanthocyanidin

1. Journal of natural products
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutical biology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Condensed Tannins

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

RUTIN

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. European journal of pharmacology

myricetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

triterpenoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Vaccinium macrocarpon has 617 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Estrogenic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HETE-Inhibitor.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HETE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Vaccinium macrocarpon has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include urinary tract infections, Influenza Virus, Urinary tract infections, antioxidant, biofilm.

Urinary tract infections

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of natural products

Influenza virus

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Urinary tract infections

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Biofilm

1. International journal of clinical pediatric dentistry

Cancer

1. International journal of biopharmaceutical sciences

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Cell adhesion

1. International journal of clinical pediatric dentistry

Common cold

1. International journal of biopharmaceutical sciences

Cystitis

1. Journal of clinical gastroenterology

Preparations

Vaccinium macrocarpon has 10 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, alcohol fractions, aqueous-ethanolic extracts (30/70), extracts of cranberry fruit, fermented extract.

Extracts

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Alcohol fractions

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Aqueous-ethanolic extracts (30/70)

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Extracts of cranberry fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Fermented extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Fruit juice

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Juices

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Oils

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Plant extracts

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Skin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR