Mountain cranberry (Moss peach) - Vaccinium vitis-idaea; mountain cranberry

Japanese: コケモモ(苔桃) - コケモモ（英語表記）Vaccinium vitis-idaea; mountain cranberry

It is an evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family, widely distributed in the cold zone of the Northern Hemisphere. In Japan, it is found in the alpine zone from Hokkaido to Kyushu. It grows underground stems that are thin and erect, about 5-20 cm tall. The leaves are entire, thick, oblong, and 1-2.5 cm long. In May and June, it produces short racemes at the ends of the branches, and bears several white, bell-shaped flowers with a pale pink tinge. Four petals are fused together, with only the tips divided into four. It has eight stamens. The fruit is a berry that turns red when ripe and has a sweet and sour taste. It can be eaten raw, pickled, or used to make jam and fruit wine.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ツツジ科の常緑小低木で，北半球の寒帯に広く分布する。日本では北海道から九州までの高山帯に分布している。地下茎を伸ばし，茎は高さ5～20cmほどで細く直立する。葉は全縁で厚く，長楕円形で長さ1～2.5cmである。5～6月に，枝の先端に短い総状花序をなして，淡紅色を帯びた白い鐘状の花を数個つける。4枚の花弁が合着し，先のほうだけが4つに分れている。おしべは8本ある。果実は液果で熟すると紅色になり，甘ずっぱく，生食するほか，塩漬にしたり，ジャムや果実酒にも用いられる。

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