Apr 13, 2017
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnickinnick or Bearberry). Ericaceae family. I love this adorable ground cover. I want to break down the scientific name for you all... arctos = bear staphyle = a bunch of grapes uva = grape (Also happens to be the genus name for grapes) ursi = bear (again) ... so this is clearly the “bearberry” a couple times over. As for the other common name, Kinnickinnick: this is an Algonquian word meaning “smoking mixture”. The dried leaves were smoked by several coastal tribes. References: Dictionary of Plant Names by Allen J Coombes, Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and Mackinnon.
