Vaccinium microcarpum
Oxycoccus microcarpus
Vaccinium microcarpum, commonly known as cranberry, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to North American wetlands. Renowned for its small, tart red berries, this medicinal plant is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Traditionally used to support urinary tract health, it offers significant nutritional benefits and potent therapeutic properties.
- Scientific name: Vaccinium microcarpum
- Family: Ericaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Ericales and the family Ericaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Vaccinium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Ericaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Vaccinium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Vaccinium microcarpum, is referred to by various common names depending on the language. In Norwegian, it is called småtranebær (nb), while in Finnish, it is known as pikkukarpalo (fi). Its Swedish counterpart is dvärgtranbär (sv), and in German, it is identified as Kleinfrüchtige Moosbeere (de). Furthermore, in Chinese, the plant is commonly called 小果红莓苔子 (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| nb | småtranebær | Wikidata |
| fi | pikkukarpalo | Wikidata |
| sv | dvärgtranbär | Wikidata |
| de | Kleinfrüchtige Moosbeere | Wikidata |
| zh | 小果红莓苔子 | Wikidata |
| uk | Журавлина дрібноплода | Wikidata |
| cy | Llygaeren fach | Wikidata |
| pl | Żurawina drobnoowocowa | Wikidata |
| smn | uccâjeggijuŋŋâ | Wikidata |
| ar | قمام صغير الثمر | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the northern regions of Europe. Its presence is documented across several distinct countries, including Finland and Sweden. Furthermore, the species can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Norway and Iceland. The range also extends southward to include parts of Great Britain. Collectively, these locations define the primary northern European habitat for Vaccinium microcarpum.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |