Uva Ursi

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Uva Ursi

At least a few other names exist for this small evergreen shrub; Sandberry, Bearberry, Hog Cranberry and Kinnikinnick. The last of these nicknames is actually a Lenape people (from the Algonquin Nation) word that means “mixture” specifically referring to a ceremonial smoking blend in the language. Uva Ursi leaves were one of three herbs used in this blend. The berries apparently are tasty to bears and so when the plant was named in Latin uva-ursi, this was taken into consideration; uva, “grape, berry of the vine”, ursi, “bear”, i.e. “bear’s grape”. Every Native American, European, and Early American settler used this plant medicinally for the same purpose; the health of the urinary tract.