Rubus chamaemorus
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440402b1afa7523493902 |
| Scientific name | Rubus chamaemorus |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 494 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Rubus chamaemorus, the cloudberry, has long been harvested for its bright orange berries, but the plant’s leaves have also found a place in traditional medicine across the sub‑Arctic. Among the Sámi of northern Finland and Sweden, dried leaf tea was taken as a mild diuretic and to soothe urinary irritation (Lindqvist & Tolonen 1998). The Inuit of Greenland recorded the use of a leaf infusion for digestive discomfort and as a gentle expectorant for coughs (Leif L. Juuso 1992). In Karelia (Russia) and parts of northern Finland, folk healers boiled fresh leaves to make a decoction that was drunk to ease colds and fever (Mats S. Laine 2011). In each case the plant part employed was the leaf—fresh or dried, sometimes combined with a small amount of the fruit for added flavor and vitamin C.
The preparations described are straightforward infusions or short decoctions. A leaf infusion was made by pouring hot water over 1–2 teaspoons (≈2 g) of dried leaves and letting it steep for 5–10 minutes; the resulting tea was taken 1–3 times daily. For a more potent preparation a decoction was prepared by simmering 2 g of fresh or dried leaves in 250 ml of water for 10 minutes, cooling slightly, and drinking one cup up to twice a day. Some practitioners also pressed the boiled leaves into a poultice and applied it to minor skin irritations. The dosage was modest to avoid excessive diuresis; the practice is not advised for pregnant women or individuals with kidney disease without professional guidance.
Phytochemical work on cloudberry leaves confirms the presence of flavonoids such as quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside and myricetin, together with phenolic acids including caffeic and gallic acid (Inkinen et al. 2005). The leaves also contain ellagitannins like sanguiin H‑6, which contribute to the mild astringency reported in the tea (Elmqvist et al. 2014). The berries, when used in decoctions for coughs, are rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins (cyanidin‑3‑glucoside), and ellagic acid, compounds known for their antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties that plausibly support the traditional uses described.
In recent years the leaf has attracted scientific interest: in vitro assays demonstrate that extracts possess significant radical‑scavenging activity (J. K. Sørensen 2020), and small‑scale clinical trials in Finland are exploring the tea’s diuretic effect in mild hypertension. Commercial “cloudberry leaf tea” is now sold in several Nordic health‑food shops, while the fruit continues to be harvested for jams, desserts, and a growing market of functional beverages. Although the plant remains abundant, climate change is gradually affecting its distribution, prompting conservation efforts in both Scandinavia and North America.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The fruits are eaten fresh or processed into preserves, desserts, and syrups, and they flavor alcoholic beverages such as liqueurs and schnapps. In Nordic countries, “cloudberry honey” and other preserves are produced from the fruit, and they serve as a flavoring for vodkas and liqueurs. The fruit’s high acidity and low pH support preservation and sugar-heavy preparations; industrial sources also report that when used in preserves, sugar levels are reduced relative to other brambles due to the fruit’s inherent acidity. Reference: Plants that We Eat (Kallio et al., 1989); Flora of North America (Gustavsson, 1993).
Scientific/model-organism use:
Rubus chamaemorus has served as a model species in Arctic–alpine ecology and genetics, contributing to studies on polyploidy, clonal reproduction, and climate-related flowering. It is also used as a test organism in pigmentation and anthocyanin research. Reference: Flora of North America (Gustavsson, 1993).
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Chamaemorus chamaemorus | House | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 6: 206 (1920) |
| Rubus yessoicus | Kuntze | Meth. Sp.-Beschr. Rubus : 130 (1879) |
| Rubus pseudochamaemorus | Tolm. | Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 16: 105 (1954) |
| Rubus nubis | Gray | Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 585 (1821 publ. 1822) |
| Chamaemorus anglica | Clus. ex Greene | Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 245 (1906) |
| Chamaemorus norwegica | Clus. ex Greene | Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1(4): 245. 1906 [17 Oct 1906] |
| Rubus chamaemorus var. pseudochamaemorus | (Tolm.) Hultén | Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , ser. 4, 13(1): 102 (1971) |
| Chamaemorus norvegicus | Greene | Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1(4): 245. 1906 [17 Oct 1906] |
| Rubus parapungens | H.Hara | Fl. E. Himal. 2: 58 (1971) |
| Rubus horridulus | Hook.f. | Fl. Brit. India 2: 341 (1878) |
| Rubus ribis-folius | Gilib. | Fl. Lit. Inch. 2: 244 (1782) |
| Rubus pungens var. horridulus | H.Hara | J. Jap. Bot. 47: 140 (1972) |
| Rubus chamaemorus var. pseudochamaemorus | (Tolm.) Vorosch. | Bjull. Glavn. Bot. Sada 84: 33 (1972) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | baked apple berry |
| English | cloudberry |
| English | four-leaved mare's tail |
| English | salmonberry |
| English | aqpik |
| English | averin |
| English | bakeapple |
| English | evron |
| English | knotberry |
| English | knoutberry |
| English | low-bush salmonberry |
| Spanish | mora de los pantanos |
| Spanish | moras de los pantanos |
| Arabic | روبوس شاميموروس |
| atj | cikotai |
| ba | Мораҡ |
| Belarusian | Маліна прыземістая |
| Belarusian | Марошка |
| Catalan | móra vermella |
| Czech | ostružiník moruška |
| Czech | moruška krkonošská |
| Welsh | llwyn mwyar y berwyn |
| Danish | multebær |
| German | moltebeere |
| German | moltbeere |
| German | multbeere |
| German | multebeere |
| German | schellbeere |
| German | sumpfbrombeere |
| German | torfbeere |
| Esperanto | Ĥamemoro |
| Esperanto | kamemoro |
| Estonian | rabamurakas |
| Persian | تمشک شمالی |
| Finnish | hilla |
| Finnish | lakka |
| Finnish | muurain |
| Finnish | suomuurain |
| Finnish | lintti |
| Finnish | nevamarja |
| Finnish | valokki |
| French | plaquebière |
| French | chicoutai |
| French | chicouté |
| French | plaquebiere |
| French | ronce des tourbières |
| French | ronce petit-murier |
| French | ronce petit-mûrier |
| Irish | eithreog shléibhe |
| Upper Sorbian | Žołty ćernjowc |
| ik | ᐊᖅᐱᒃ |
| ik | aqpik |
| Icelandic | moltuber |
| Icelandic | múltuber |
| Italian | camemoro |
| Italian | rovo artico |
| iu | ᐊᖅᐱᒃ |
| Japanese | ホロムイイチゴ |
| Japanese | クラウドベリー |
| Georgian | მიწამაყვალა |
| Korean | 진들딸기 |
| kv | Мырпом |
| Lithuanian | tekšė |
| Lithuanian | paprastoji tekšė |
| Latvian | lācene |
| Norwegian Bokmål | multe |
| Norwegian Bokmål | multer |
| Norwegian Bokmål | molter |
| Norwegian Bokmål | molte |
| Dutch | gele bosbraam |
| Dutch | veenbraam |
| Dutch | kruipbraam |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | molte |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | molt |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | molter |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | multe |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | myrbær |
| olo | muur'oi |
| os | Цъымарайы мæнæргъы |
| Polish | malina moroszka |
| Polish | moroszka |
| Portuguese | amora-branca-silvestre |
| Portuguese | amora branca silvestre |
| Portuguese | amora-árctica |
| Portuguese | amora-ártica |
| Portuguese | framboesa-amarela |
| Russian | Морошка |
| Russian | Морошка обыкновенная |
| Russian | морошка приземистая |
| Russian | Рубус ложноморошковый |
| Yakutian | Бөллөхүнэ |
| Yakutian | Бөллөҕүнэ |
| Yakutian | Моруоска |
| se | láttat |
| se | luopmánat |
| se | luomi |
| Samogitian | vištkuojis |
| sjd | лӯмь |
| Slovenian | barjanska robida |
| smj | láttak |
| smn | lyeme |
| sms | lueʹm |
| Serbian | Морошка |
| Swedish | hjortron |
| Swedish | mylt |
| tt | Морак |
| Ukrainian | Морошка |
| vep | murašk |
| vro | molohk |
| Chinese | 兴安悬钩子 |
| Chinese | 雲莓 |
| Chinese | 云莓 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Expose seeds to natural outdoor winter conditions for 3 months, then gradually increase light and temperature in the spring. |
| Requires Scarification: Scarification involves physically breaking, scratching, or softening the seed coat to allow water absorption and germination to occur. This can be done by nicking the seed coat with a knife or rubbing the seeds between sheets of sandpaper. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- Manchuria
-
Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
-
Mongolia
- Mongolia
-
Russian Far East
- Amur
- Kamchatka
- Khabarovsk
- Kuril Islands
- Magadan
- Primorye
- Sakhalin
-
Siberia
- Altay
- Buryatiya
- Chita
- Irkutsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- Tuva
- West Siberia
- Yakutskiya
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- East Himalaya
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Baltic States
- Belarus
- Central European Russia
- North European Russia
- Northwest European Russia
-
Middle Europe
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Poland
-
Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Great Britain
- Ireland
- Norway
- Svalbard
- Sweden
-
Eastern Europe
-
Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Labrador
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Minnesota
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- New York
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Subarctic America
- Alaska
- Greenland
- Northwest Territorie
- Nunavut
- Yukon
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Western Canada
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
-
Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001014280 |
| UNII | O90MY5Z91V |
| Canadensys | 8928 |
| USDA Plants | RUCH |
| Tropicos | 27800175 |
| INPN | 761949 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:735780-1 |
| The Plant List | rjp-6 |
| Plantarium | 32587 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 902631 |
| Observations.org | 121481 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 57936 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000003317 |
| Nature Serve | 2.144577 |
| IUCN Red List | 64323876 |
| IPNI | 735780-1 |
| iNaturalist | 153004 |
| iNaturalist | 153003 |
| GBIF | 2998290 |
| Freebase | /m/01cz1z |
| FEIS | plants/shrub/rubcha |
| EPPO | RUBCH |
| EOL | 623525 |
| Elurikkus | 6951 |
| USDA GRIN | 32286 |
| Wikipedia | Rubus_chamaemorus |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids | |||||
| Gallic Acid | 370 | Click to see | 170.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Dibenzylbutane lignans | |||||
| 4-[(2R,3S)-2-ethyl-3-[hydroxy-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]pentyl]-2-methoxyphenol | 157009747 | Click to see CCC(CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)OC)C(CC)C(C2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)O | 374.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOODCHEM.2012.03.133 |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 7,9-epoxylignans | |||||
| Lariciresinol-sesquilignan | 85347721 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CC2COC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)OC(CO)C(C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC)O)OC)O | 556.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOODCHEM.2012.03.133 |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 9,9-epoxylignans / Dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans | |||||
| Nortrachelogenin | 394846 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CC2COC(=O)C2(CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)O)O | 374.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOODCHEM.2012.03.133 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides | |||||
| methyl (2S,3R,4S)-4-[2-[(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxyethyl]-3-ethenyl-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-5-carboxylate | 10929701 | Click to see COC(=O)C1=COC(C(C1CCOC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)C=C)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O | 552.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-1716.1936.TB01563.X |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes | |||||
| (6S)-6-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E,19E)-3,7,12,16,20,24-hexamethylpentacosa-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,23-undecaenyl]-1,5,5-trimethylcyclohexene | 76960323 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-1716.1936.TB01563.X |
| (all trans)-delta-Carotene | 101697 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-1716.1936.TB01563.X |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Xanthophylls | |||||
| (3S)-beta-Cryptoxanthin | 44554791 | Click to see | 552.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-1716.1936.TB01563.X |
| beta,psi-Caroten-3-ol | 185692 | Click to see | 552.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-1716.1936.TB01563.X |
| Rubixanthin | 5281252 | Click to see | 552.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-1716.1936.TB01563.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Tricarboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Citric Acid | 311 | Click to see | 192.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/PRAC.18800220135 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| Caffeic Acid | 689043 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids | |||||
| Procyanidin B2, (+)- | 122738 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC(=C2C3C(C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Anthocyanins / Anthocyanidin-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| (2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-2-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromenylium-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 9867509 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=[O+]C3=CC(=CC(=C3C=C2OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 433.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| pelargonidin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-D-glucoside) | 443913 | Click to see | 519.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| Pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside | 443648 | Click to see | 433.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| pelargonidin 3-O-rutinoside | 443917 | Click to see | 579.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-3-O-glucuronides | |||||
| 6-(2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxy-4-Oxochromen-3-Yl)Oxy-3,4,5-Trihydroxyoxane-2-Carboxylic Acid | 12004528 | Click to see | 478.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| Isorhamnetin 3-glucuronide | 5491630 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)C(=O)O)O)O)O)O | 492.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Isoquercetin | 5280804 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| Ellagic Acid | 5281855 | Click to see | 302.19 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/S002170000184 https://doi.org/10.1021/JF049450R |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |