Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Safety & Hazards
The leaves contain 5 - 7% arbutin, a compound that is widely used as a skin-lightening agent and moisturizer. Arbutin is glucosylated hydroquinone and may carry similar cancer risks if ingested, although thaes have not been substantiated and there are also claims that arbutin reduces cancer risk.
Botanical Description
Vaccinium vitis-idaea is a dwarf, evergreen shrub growing from a rhizomatous rootstock and forming a dense mat of erect to prostrate stems 10 - 30cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. , 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine, and sometimes also for the commercial exploitation of the fruit[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. It is also cultivated as a fruit crop and is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to form a ground cover.