Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) is a flowering plant in genus Rubus, in the family Rosaceae. It is a native of alpine and arctic tundra and boreal forest, bearing amber-colored fruit that is similar to the raspberry or blackberry.
Cloudberry plant is a rhizomatous herb, growing to 10-25 cm tall. The leaves are alternate, with 5-7 soft, handlike lobes on straight, branchless stalks. After pollination, the white flowers form raspberry-sized berries. Each berry consists of 5-25 drupelets which are initially pale red, ripening into an amber color in early autumn.
The cloudberry can withstand cold temperatures (-40°C), but is sensitive to salty and to dry conditions. It grows well in bogs, marshes and wet meadows, and requires sunny positions in acidic ground. Cloudberry does not self-pollinate, and requires a plant of the opposite sex. Birds, animals and the excretion of the indigestible seeds helps in the reproduction of new plants. It can also propagate via the spreading of rhizomes.
The ripe cloudberry is golden yellow in color, soft and juicy, and is rich in vitamin C. Cloudberries have a distinctive tart taste when eaten fresh, and a creamy texture and flavor somewhat like yogurt when the berries are over-ripe. The berries are often made into jams, juices, tarts and liqueurs, sometimes as toppings for ice cream and waffles.
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Eileen Henderson
