Nature Today | Kraaihei, distinctly northern in modest bloom

Karahi (Emitrum nigrum) It is a green heather shrub with a maximum height of 45 cm throughout the year. The densely growing leaves are spread in clear rings around a red stem. Leaves are linear to elongated. If you look closely, you will see that the edge of the paper has turned over. The leaves are distinctly green (emerald) and currently stand out well in bare winter plants. Young leaves at the end of the stem grow diagonally upward and become perpendicular to the stem as they grow older.

Although the peak flowering time is at this time, you have to make an effort to find the small flowers in Karahi. The pink to red-purple flowers grow in the axils of the leaves, consist of six petals and are only 1 to 2 mm in size. They are often densely packed at the end of branches. Kraaihei is a dioecious plant. This means that each plant consists of only male flowers or only female flowers. The male flowers have three stamens, and the purple anther protrudes behind the leaves. The female flowers do not stand out and are not noticeable. Pollen is spread by wind, so you will see few insects around the karahi flowers.

The plant owes its name Kraaihei to its shiny black berries, reminiscent of the color of a crow's feathers. The berries appear from May, peak in July, and can be found in the fall. It is eaten by birds and mammals. It is not very tasty for humans.

Inhabitant of wastelands, forests and the coast

You will find Kraaihei on the northern slopes, in drift sand valleys, heathlands on high sandy soils, sea dunes, swamps, birch forests and conifer forests. Here it grows on lime-poor, nutrient-poor, dry to moist sandy and peat soils, preferably in sunny to slightly shaded locations.

The future of Kraaihei is in the warm Netherlands

Kraaihei is a distinctive plant of northern Europe, with the southern border of its area extending right through the center of the Netherlands. In more southern countries, distribution is limited to mountainous areas. It is a very rare species in the Netherlands.

It is interesting to monitor the impact of climate warming – with more (extreme) heat and drought in the long term – on Karahi. It is expected that this species will have a difficult time and its numbers will decline locally or even disappear. Chances of Kraaihei may be higher on the shady northern slopes, where there is almost always shade and it is a bit cooler and wetter. We see the same thing happening with… Zewindow: Another outright northerner.

Missed flowering Kraaihei?

And if you missed the peak of Kraaihei: don't worry. After Kraaihei it was the subscribers' turn blueberry, who is also a member of the Heath family. This shrub grows partly in areas similar to Kraaihei, but is rarely found in the dune area. You also have to kneel down to properly enjoy the raspberry blossoms. Advantage over Kraaihei: Mulberry berries are also good for humans to enjoy. Just have to be patient, the berries will only be available from June.

Text: Leonie Tissma and Baudouin Audi, Fluoron
Photo: Willem Bram. Fluoron; tease; Edwin Dejkhuis