Bearberry

Bear-berry (Arctostaphylos), a genus of prostrate shrubs belonging to the heath tribe. They have small leaves, small terminal clusters of flowers, like those of Arbutus, with a persistent calyx and a smooth berry-like fruit with five one-seeded stones. Two species occur in Scotland, and other northern regions in both hemispheres, their berries forming part of the food of grouse. A. uvaursi, which has scarlet fruit, is an astringent, used for tanning and to remove boiler-crust. A. alpina, the black bearberry, is the badge of the clan Ross.