Black crowberry

This small shrub can reach a height of 15 cm and forms dense mats that cover northern forest floors. The branches bear several leaves, the internodes are very short, and the young stems are adorned with white hairs.

The leaves are needle-shaped, similar to those of conifers. Small and evergreen, they grow in whorls around the branches.

The small flowers are solitary, opening in the axils of the upper leaves. They have 3 rounded, brown or beige sepals, and 3 white petals, slightly longer than the sepals.

The fruit, which is round and slightly indented at the top, is a small black and sometimes red drupe. Its flesh is reddish-white. The sepals and petals remain on the plant at the base of the fruit.