Bilberry
Template:Short description Template:About
Bilberry (Template:IPAc-en), also known as European blueberry, is a Eurasian low-growing shrub in the genus Vaccinium of the flowering plant family Ericaceae native to northern Europe and North America.<ref name="nordgen">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nih">Template:Cite web</ref> Vaccinium myrtillus L. is the species most commonly called bilberry, but other closely related Vaccinium species may also have this name.<ref name=nordgen/><ref name="kron">Template:Cite journal</ref>
The plant produces edible, dark blue berries, which resemble – but are distinct from – North American blueberries.<ref name=nih/> The dark blue color of bilberries derives from the high content of anthocyanins.<ref name=nordgen/><ref name=nih/><ref name=drugs/>
Well known in folklore, bilberry extracts and dried powders are sold as dietary supplements promoted mainly for eye disorders, although there is no substantial clinical evidence that consuming bilberry fruit or its preparations provides any health benefits.<ref name=nih/><ref name="drugs">Template:Cite web</ref>
Etymology and regional names
The name "bilberry" appears to have a Scandinavian origin, possibly from as early as 1577, while the earliest known English use of the name "blueberry" dates back to 1594, appearing in the Acts of Parliament of Scotland.<ref name="diction">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=mw/> The name "bilberry" is similar to the Danish word Template:Lang for whortleberry with the addition of "berry".<ref name=diction/><ref name="mw">Template:Cite web</ref> In Scandinavian languages, terms for bilberries have names with the meaning "blueberry", such as Template:Lang in Swedish and Template:Lang in Danish and Norwegian.<ref name="nordgen" />
The bilberry (especially Vaccinium myrtillus) may be called blaeberry Template:IPAc-en in Scottish and Northern English regional dialects,<ref name=Blamey>Template:Cite book</ref> whortleberry Template:IPAc-en in southern England,<ref name=Blamey /> and Template:Lang in Ireland.<ref name="bilberry-1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="bilberry-2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Description
Bilberries, which are native to Europe, are different from North American blueberries, although the species are closely related and belong to the same genus, Vaccinium.<ref name=nordgen/><ref name=nih/>
Bilberries are non-climacteric berries with a smooth, circular outline at the end opposite the stalk, whereas American blueberries retain persistent sepals there, leaving a rough, star-shaped pattern of five flaps.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Bilberries grow singly or in pairs rather than in clusters, as American blueberries do, and American blueberries have more evergreen leaves. Bilberries are dark in color, and often appear near black with a slight shade of purple.<ref name=nordgen/><ref name=nih/>
Phytochemicals
Bilberries contain diverse polyphenols, including tannins, organic acids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins, specifically anthocyanidins as delphinidin and cyanidin glycosides.<ref name=nih/><ref name=drugs/><ref name="kaunus" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> V. myrtillus bilberry pulp is red or purple, and V. uliginosum bog bilberry pulp is pale-colored.Template:Cn The high anthocyanin content of V. myrtillus may cause staining of the fingers, lips, and tongue.<ref name="kaunus">Template:Cite journal</ref> The anthocyanin content of bilberries and bilberry juice may exceed the levels seen in blueberries and blueberry juice.<ref name="muller">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Species
The term bilberries can describe several closely related species, which (except for V. uliginosum) are part of section Myrtillus:<ref name=kron/>
- Vaccinium myrtillus L. (bilberry)
- Vaccinium uliginosum L. (bog bilberry, bog blueberry, bog whortleberry, bog huckleberry, northern bilberry, ground hurts)
- Vaccinium cespitosum Michx. (dwarf bilberry)
- Vaccinium deliciosum Piper (Cascade bilberry)
- Vaccinium membranaceum (mountain bilberry, black mountain huckleberry, black huckleberry, twin-leaved huckleberry)
- Vaccinium ovalifolium (oval-leafed blueberry, oval-leaved bilberry, mountain blueberry, high-bush blueberry).
Ecology
Bilberry plants can suffer from bilberry blight,<ref name="NatEn">Template:Cite web</ref> caused by Phytophthora kernoviae. There have been severe outbreaks in Staffordshire, England.<ref name="StaffsCC">Template:Cite web</ref>
Bilberry is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.Template:Cn
Harvesting
Template:More citations needed section
Bilberries are found in acidic, nutrient-poor soils throughout the temperate and subarctic regions of the world.<ref name=nordgen/><ref name=nih/><ref name=drugs/><ref name=kron/> Because they are difficult to grow and the fruit is small, bilberries are seldom cultivated.<ref name=nordgen/> Fruits are mostly collected from wild plants growing on publicly accessible lands throughout northern and central Europe where they are plentiful;<ref name=nordgen/> for example, up to a fifth (17–21%) of the land area of Sweden contains bilberry bushes, where it is called blåbär (lit. "blueberry", which is a source of confusion with the North American blueberry).<ref>sv:Blåbär</ref> Bilberries can be picked by a berry-picking rake like lingonberries, but are more susceptible to damage.
In Iceland, bilberries (known as aðalbláber, or "prime blueberry") grow predominantly in Westfjords and the surrounding area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In most of the country, the subtype bog blueberry occupies the same habitat. Both species are commonly found growing with dwarf birch and crowberries. Wild growth is vast compared to the population of Iceland and wild harvesting is legal, and a common activity in August when the berry season peaks.Template:Cn
In Ireland, bilberries (known as fraochán) were traditionally gathered on the last Sunday in July, known as Bilberry Sunday, for the Celtic harvest festival of Lughnasadh, which marked the end of the hungry month of July.<ref name="bilberry-1"></ref><ref name="bilberry-2"></ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Uses
The fruits are eaten fresh or made into jams, fools, juices, or pies.<ref name=nordgen/><ref name=nih/> In France and Italy, they are used as a base for liqueurs and are a popular flavoring for sorbets and other desserts. In Brittany, they are often used as a flavoring for crêpes. In the Vosges and the Massif Central, bilberry tart (tarte aux myrtilles) is a traditional dessert. In Romania, they are used as a base for a liqueur called afinată – the name of the fruit in Romanian is afină. In Nordic countries, they are eaten fresh or made into jams and other dishes, including bilberry pie (Finnish mustikkapiirakka, Swedish blåbärspaj) and blåbärssoppa, a bilberry soup served hot or cold. In Iceland, they are eaten with skyr (a cultured dairy product similar to yoghurt). In Poland, they are eaten fresh (often mixed with sugar), as a filling in a sweet yeast-leavened bun known as jagodzianka, in jams, and with śmietana.
Research
Although bilberries have been used in traditional medicine, there are no proven health benefits or antidisease effects from consuming them.<ref name=nih/><ref name=drugs/> One review of low-quality clinical research concluded there was no evidence that consuming bilberries improves night vision.<ref name="Canter">Template:Cite journal</ref>
References
External links
Template:Blueberries Template:Non-timber forest products Template:Authority control