Vaccinium myrtillus
Encyclopedia
Vaccinium myrtillus is an almost Holarctic
species
of shrub with edible fruit, usually simply referred to as "bilberry
" or "whortleberry
". It is more precidely called Common Bilberry or Blue Whortleberry, to distinguish it from its Vaccinium
relatives. Other more regional names include Blaeberry, Fraughan and Hurtleberry.
Vaccinium myrtillus was voted the County flower
of Leeds
in 2002 following a poll by the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife
.
, northern Asia
, Greenland
, Western Canada
, and the Western United States
.
The bilberry fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams.
Holarctic
The Holarctic ecozone refers to the habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world as a whole. This region is divided into the Palearctic, consisting of Northern Africa and all of Eurasia, with the exception of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and the Nearctic,...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of shrub with edible fruit, usually simply referred to as "bilberry
Bilberry
Bilberry is any of several species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium , bearing edible berries. The species most often referred to is Vaccinium myrtillus L., but there are several other closely related species....
" or "whortleberry
Whortleberry
Whortleberry may refer to the berries of several plants of genus Vaccinium:* Vaccinium myrtillus, Bilberry, or Blue Whortleberry* Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Red Whortleberry* Vaccinium uliginosum, Bog Whortleberry...
". It is more precidely called Common Bilberry or Blue Whortleberry, to distinguish it from its Vaccinium
Vaccinium
Vaccinium is a genus of shrubs or dwarf shrubs in the plant Family Ericaceae. The fruit of many species are eaten by humans and some are of commercial importance, including the cranberry, blueberry, bilberry or whortleberry, lingonberry or cowberry, and huckleberry...
relatives. Other more regional names include Blaeberry, Fraughan and Hurtleberry.
Vaccinium myrtillus was voted the County flower
County flowers of the United Kingdom
The following are the flowers selected for the historic counties of the United Kingdom in Plantlife's 2002 "County Flowers" campaign...
of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in 2002 following a poll by the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife
Plantlife
Plantlife is a wild plant conservation charity. As of 2007, its membership was 10,500 and it owned 23 nature reserves around the UK.-History:It was founded in 1989 with its first President being Professor David Bellamy. By 1999 it had 22 nature reserves....
.
Range
Vaccinium myrtillus is found in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, northern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
, and the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
.
Fruit
Vaccinium myrtillus has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine. Herbal supplements of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) are on the market, used for circulatory problems, a vision aid, diarrhea, and other conditions.The bilberry fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams.