Cranberry
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the genus
Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccus, or in some treatments, in the distinct genus
Oxycoccus. They are found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the
Northern Hemisphere.
Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to 2 m long and 5 to 20 cm in
height,[1] with slender, wiry stems, not thickly woody, and small evergreen
leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very distinct reflexed petals, leaving
the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. They are pollinated by
domestic honey bees. The fruit is a berry that is larger than the leaves of the
plant; it is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. It is
edible, with an acidic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.
Cranberries are a major commercial crop in certain US states and Canadian
provinces. Most cranberries are processed into products such as juice, sauce,
and sweetened dried cranberries, with the remainder sold fresh to consumers.
Cranberry sauce is regarded an indispensable part of traditional American and
Canadian Thanksgiving menus and European winter festivals.