ガンコウラン科ガンコウラン属の常緑小低木で、学名は Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum。英名は Japanese crowberry。
The Japanese crowberry (Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum) belongs to the family Empetraceae. It is an evergreen shrub that is native from Chubu district of Honshu north to Hokkaido in Japan. This shrub grows in Veitch fir zone to Dwarf Siberian pine zone, crawls on the grounds and spreads like carpet. It can reach 10-20 cm in height. The leaves are linear, dark green and arranged in alternate. It is dioecious. The small dark rose-pink flowers from May to June. The fruits are globe and ripen blackish-purple. They have sour flavor and can be used as a food.