The white berries of the snowberry make a cracking sound when they are stepped into firm ground.
The name Symphoricarpos is derived from the Greek words συμφορειν ("to bear together") and καρπος ("fruit"). It refers to the closely packed berries the species produce. It is native to North America. It can grow in a wide variety of habitat types. Native Americans used the plant as a medicine and a soap, and sometimes for food, and the wood was good for arrow shafts. In Russia, the berries are crushed in the hands and rubbed about for a soothing folk-remedy hand lotion. Snowberry fruit contains low concentrations of a bitter principle, saponin, which foams in water. It is very poorly absorbed by the body and can be broken down by thoroughly cooking the fruit. Saponin is much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, if eaten in large quantities. The snowberry is also used for erosion control and it is planted in ecological restoration projects on disturbed sites such as abandoned mines. Its white fruits make it popular as an ornamental plant.
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