View source for Uva Ursi

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi''
| image = Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 25924.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Ericaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Arctostaphylos]]''
| species = '''''A. uva-ursi'''''
| binomial = ''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Spreng.]]
}}

'''''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi''''' is a species of ''[[Arctostaphylos]]'', one of several related species referred to as [[bearberry]]. Other names for this species include '''kinnikinnick''' and '''pinemat manzanita'''.

It is a small [[procumbent]] woody shrub 5-30 cm high. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], remaining green for 1-3 years before falling. The [[fruit]] is a red [[berry]]. 

The leaves are shiny, small, and feel thick and stiff. They are alternately arranged on the stems. Undersides of leaves are lighter green than on the tops. New stems can be red in areas with high sun, but are otherwise green. Older growth stems are brown. In spring, they have white or pink flowers. They are a common plant on [[Jack pine]] sites. 

[[Image:Arctostaphylos-uva-ursi.JPG|left|thumb|''A. uva-ursi'' subsp. ''uva-ursi'' fruit]]
The distribution is circumpolar, widespread in northern latitudes, confined to high altitudes further south. In Europe, from [[Iceland]] and [[North Cape]], [[Norway]] south to southern [[Spain]] ([[Sierra Nevada (Spain)|Sierra Nevada)]], central [[Italy]] ([[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]]) and northern [[Greece]] ([[Pindus]] mountains); in Asia from arctic [[Siberia]] south to [[Turkey]], the [[Caucasus]] and the [[Himalaya]]; in North America from arctic Alaska, Canada and Greenland south to [[California]], north coast, central High [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] (above Convict Lake, [[Mono County|Mono County, California]]), [[Central Coast of California|Central Coast, California]], [[San Francisco Bay Area]], to [[New Mexico]] in the [[Rocky Mountains]]; and the [[Appalachian Mountains]] in the northeast United States. In some areas the plant is endangered or has been extirpated from its native range. In other areas it is abundant.

Bearberry has historically been used for medicinal purposes. It contains the glycoside [[arbutin]], which has antimicrobial properties and acts as a mild [[diuretic]]. It has been used for urinary tract complaints, including [[cystitis]] and [[Kidney stone|urolithiasis]]. An infusion may be made by soaking the leaves in ethanol and then diluting with water.

There are four [[subspecies]]:
*''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''uva-ursi''. '''Common Bearberry'''; circumpolar arctic and subarctic, and in mountains further south.
*''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''adenotricha''. Central high [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]].
*''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''coactilis''. North coastal California, central coast California, [[San Francisco Bay Area]].
*''Arctostaphylos uva-ursi'' subsp. ''cratericola'' (J. D. Smith) P. V. Wells. '''Guatemala Bearberry''', [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to [[Guatemala]] at very high altitudes (3000-4000 m).

There are also several varieties that are propagated for use as [[ornamental plant|ornamentals]]. It is an attractive evergreen plant and it is also useful for controlling [[erosion]].
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