Envoy at 19:54, 3 October 2007

2007-10-03T19:54:31Z

New page

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Cloudberry
| image = Rubus_chamæmorus.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = <small>From "Bilder ur Nordens Flora" (1917-1926)</small>
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Rubus]]''
| species = '''''R. chamaemorus'''''
| binomial = ''Rubus chamaemorus''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

The '''cloudberry''' (''Rubus chamaemorus''), also called '''bakeapple''' in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] and [[Cape Breton Island]] is a slow-growing alpine or sub-Arctic species of ''[[Rubus]]'', producing amber-colored edible fruit. The botanical name (''chamæmorus'') derives from the Greek ''chamai'' ("dwarf") and ''morus'' ("[[mulberry]]"). Cloudberry is the name for both the plant and the fruit. Cloudberry should not be confused with [[salmonberry]], although the fruit looks similar.

The cloudberry grows to 10-25 cm high. The [[leaf|leaves]] alternate between having 5 and 7 soft, handlike lobes on straight, branchless stalks. After pollination, the white (sometimes reddish-tipped) [[flower]]s form raspberry-sized [[berry|berries]]. Encapsulating between 5 and 25 [[drupe]]lets, each fruit is initially pale red, ripening into an amber colour in early autumn.

=== Distribution and ecology ===
Cloudberries occur naturally throughout the [[Northern Hemisphere]] from 78°N, south to about 55°N, and very scattered south to 44°N mainly in mountainous areas. In Europe and Asia, they grow in the [[Nordic countries]], especially in Finland; sometimes in the [[moorland]]s of [[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[Ireland]], the [[Baltic states]], and across northern [[Russia]] east to the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Small populations are also found further south, as a botanical vestige of the [[Ice Age]]s; it is found in Germany's [[Weser]] and [[Elbe]] valleys, where it is under legal protection. In North America, cloudberries grow wild across most of [[Canada]] / [[Alaska]], and in the lower 48 states of the [[United States]] in northern [[Minnesota]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Maine]], and a small population on [[Long Island]], [[New York]].

It grows in [[bog]]s, [[marsh]]es and wet [[meadow]]s and requires sunny exposures in acidic ground (between 3.5 and 5 ''p''H). The cloudberry can withstand cold temperatures down to well below -40°C, but is sensitive to [[salt]] and to dry conditions.

Cloudberry leaves are food for [[caterpillar]]s of several [[Lepidoptera]] species. The [[moth]] ''[[Coleophora thulea]]'' has no other known foodplants. See also [[List of Lepidoptera which feed on Rubus]].

=== Propagation ===
[[Image:Rubus chamaemorus.jpg|thumb|230px|Unripe cloudberry]]
[[Image:Hjortron.jpg|thumb|230px|Ripe cloudberry]]Unlike most ''Rubus'' species, the cloudberry does not [[Self-pollination|self-pollinate]]. Pollination requires a plant of the opposite sex. Wide distribution occurs due to the opening of capsules by birds and animals and the excretion of the indigestible seeds. Further distribution arises through its [[rhizome]]s which can develop extensive berry patches. Cuttings of these taken in May or August is successful in producing a genetic clone of the parent plant.<ref>{{cite journal
|author=K. Rapp
|year=1986
|title=Vegetativ oppformering av molte (''Rubus chamaemorus'' L.)
|journal=Jord og Myr
|volume=10
|pages=1-11
}}</ref>

=== Cultivation ===

Despite its modern demand as a delicacy exceeding supply (particularly in Norway) the cloudberry is principally a wild plant. Wholesale prices vary widely based on the size of the yearly harvest, but can reach €10/kilo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aFoIHwZwFtyk&refer=europe|title=Record Cloudberry Crop Lures Thousands of Finns to Lapland Bogs|accessdate=2006-05-24}}</ref>

Since the middle of the 1990s, however, the cloudberry has formed part of the "Northernberries" research project. The Norwegian government, in co-operation with Finnish, Swedish and Scottish counterparts, has vigorously pursued the aim of enabling commercial production of various wild berries (Norway imports 200 - 300 [[tonne]]s of cloudberries per year from Finland). Beginning in 2002, selected [[cultivar]]s have been available to farmers, notably "Apolto" (male), "Fjellgull" (female) and "Fjordgull" (female). The cloudberry can be cultivated in Arctic areas where few other crops are possible, for example along the northern coast of [[Norway]].

=== Uses ===
The ripe fruits are golden-yellow, soft and juicy, and are rich in [[vitamin C]]. When eaten fresh, cloudberries have a distinctive tart taste. When over-ripe, they have a creamy texture and flavor somewhat like yogurt. They are often made into [[jam]]s, [[juice]]s, tarts, and liqueurs. In Finland the berries are eaten with "[[Leipäjuusto]]" (a local cheese, the name translates to "bread-cheese"), and lots of cream and sugar. In Sweden, cloudberries are also used as ice cream topping. In Norway, they are eaten with whipped cream and lots of sugar, or in cakes that often contain [[marzipan]]. In Canada, cloudberries are used to flavour a special beer. Canadians also use them for jam, but not on the same scale as Scandinavians.
In Alaska the berries are mixed with seal oil,reindeer or caribou fat (which is diced up and made fluffy with the seal oil) and sugar to make "Eskimo Ice Cream" or Agutuk.The recipes vary by region. Along the Yukon and Kuskokwim river areas white fish(pike,whitefish) along with Crisco and sugar is used.
Due to its high vitamin C content, the berry is valued both by [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] seafarers and by Canadian [[Inuit]] as protection against [[scurvy]]. Its high [[benzoic acid]] content acts as a natural preservative.

Tea made from cloudberry leaves was used in ancient Scandinavian herbal medicine to cure urinary tract infections.

==== Alcoholic drinks ====
In Nordic countries traditionally liquers such as ''[[Lakkalikööri]]'' (a Finnish liquer) are made of cloudberry. It has a strong taste and a high sugar content. Cloudberry has also served as a spice for [[aquavit]].

[[Dogfish Head Brewery]] has made an [http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dogfish-head-arctic-cloudberry-imperial-wheat/54557/2778/ Arctic Cloudberry Imperial Wheat] beer, which was inspired by the [http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer/cantillon-soleil-de-minuit/5962/ cloudberry lambic] dubbed Soleil de Minuit made by [[Brasserie Cantillon]] for the Akkurat pub in [[Stockholm]].

==== Makeup ====
Lumene, a Finnish makeup company has released makeup in the United States that contains cloudberry oil and comes in small plastic capsules resembling cloudberry segments.

=== Other names ===
Other names for the cloudberry include:
* [[Canada]]: {{lang-fr|plaquebiere}}, ''{{lang|fr|chicoutai}}'' (in [[Quebec]]), "bakeapple" (from ''baie qu'appelle'', meaning "what is this berry called?," in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] and [[Cape Breton Island]])
* {{lang-ca|romegueró de torbera}}
* [[Yupik language|Cup'ig]]: "atsar atsakutag" (plural)
* {{lang-cz|ostružiník moruška}}
* {{lang-da|multebær}}
* {{lang-nl|kruipbraam}}, ''{{lang|nl|gele bosbraam}}''
* {{lang-et|rabamurakas}} (commonly used); ''{{lang|et|kaarlad}}'', ''{{lang|et|kaarmed}}'', ''{{lang|et|kaarnad}}'', ''{{lang|et|käbalad}}'', ''{{lang|et|muuramed}}'' (locally used)
* {{lang-fi|lakka}}, ''{{lang|fi|suomuurain}}'', ''{{lang|fi|hilla}}'', ''{{lang|fi|muurain}}'', ''{{lang|fi|lintti}}'', ''{{lang|fiu|valokki}}'', ''{{lang|fi|nevamarja}}
* {{lang-fr|mûre des marais}}, ''{{lang|fr|plaquebière}}'', ''{{lang|fr|ronce des tourbières}}'', ''{{lang|fr|ronce petit-mûrier}}'', ''{{lang|fr|mûre arctique}}
* {{lang-de|Moltebeere}}, ''{{lang|de|Multebeere}}'', ''{{lang|de|Multbeere}}'' (from Danish); ''{{lang|de|Torfbeere}}'' (peat berry)
* {{lang-el|άγριο βατόμουρο}} (''{{lang|gr|βατόμουρο}}'')
* {{lang-hu|törpemálna}}, ''{{lang|hu|Sarki szeder}}'', ''{{lang|hu|Lápi málna}}'', ''{{lang|hu|tőzegmálna}}'' ''{{lang|hu|mocsári hamvasszeder}}''
* {{lang-is|múltuber}}
* {{lang-smn|lyeme}}
* {{lang-ik|aqpik}} or {{Unicode|ᐊᖅᐱᒃ}}
* {{lang-it|camemoro, mora artica}}
* [[Jamtlandic]]: "mylta"
* {{lang-lt|paprastoji tekšė}}
* {{lang-lv|lacene}}
* {{lang-sme|luomi}}
* {{lang-no|molte}}, ''{{lang|no|multe}}'', ''{{lang|no|multebær}}'', ''{{lang|no|myrbær}}'' (whilst unripe)
* {{lang-fa|تمشک قطبی}}
* {{lang-pl|malina moroszka}}, ''{{lang|pl|moroszka}}''
* {{lang-pt|amora-branca-silvestre}}
* {{lang-ru|морошка}} (''moroshka'')
[[Image:Eurocoins nat finland.s02 200.jpg|right|thumb|140px|The national side of a Finnish €2 coin]]
* [[Sakha language|Sakha]]: "{{Unicode|ыт тиҥилэҕэ}}" ("yt tingileghe")
* [[Yupik language|Siberian Yup'ik]]: "akavsik" (plural)
* {{lang-sms|lue'm}}
* {{lang-sk|ostružina moruška}}
* {{lang-es|mora de los pantanos}}, ''{{lang|es|mora ártica}}'', ''{{lang|es|mora de ronces}}'', ''{{lang|es|camemoro}}'', ''{{lang|es|camemoro ártico}}''
* {{lang-sv|hjortron}} (commonly used); ''{{lang|sv|multebär}}'', ''{{lang|sv|myrbär}}'', ''{{lang|sv|snåtterblomma}}'', ''{{lang|sv|solbär}}'' (locally used)
* [[Yupik language|Yup'ik]]: "naunraq", "atsalugpiaq"

== Trivia ==
The Norwegian municipality of [[Nesseby]] has a cloudberry in its coat-of-arms. The cloudberry fruit and leaves are also displayed on the national side of the [[Finnish euro coins|Finnish €2 coins]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons|Rubus chamaemorus}}
* [http://www.uku.fi/northernberries/ "Northernberries" project: Domestication of Northern Berries]
* [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Rubus+chamaemorus Plants for a Future database report]
* [http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/rosa/rubus/rubuchav.jpg Den virtuelle floran - Distribution]

[[Category:Rubus]]
[[Category:Fruit]]
[[Category:Canadian cuisine]]
[[Category:Finnish cuisine]]
[[Category:Norwegian cuisine]]
[[Category:Swedish cuisine]]

Cloudberry - Revision history

Envoy at 19:54, 3 October 2007