Traditional uses and beneficial effects of various species of berry-producing plants in eastern Canada

• Main Author: Weber, John Thomas
• Format: Review
• Language: unknown
• Published: University of Toronto 2021
• Subjects: Canada; Crowberry
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/107832; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjb-2021-0086

There are many different types of berry plants that grow throughout North America. These various species of plants produce berries known by their common names such as blueberry, lingonberry, cranberry, crowberry, blackberry, bunchberry, bearberry and strawberry. The berry fruits are important food sources and can be eaten fresh or preserved. The leaves of several species can also be enjoyed in teas. Contemporary medicine has demonstrated many potential health benefits of berries, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Indigenous Peoples have not only utilized berries as food, likely over many centuries, but have also passed down knowledge on the medicinal uses of various parts of these plants, including the fruits, leaves and roots. This short review provides a synopsis of some of the major species of berry-producing plants that are prevalent in Canada, particularly eastern Canada. Current knowledge and traditional uses of important species of berry-producing plants are discussed. The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author.