Bilberry

This article is about the wild "European" blueberry. For the commonly cultivated "American" blueberry, see Blueberry. For other uses, see Bilberry (disambiguation).

Bilberries

Bilberries (/ˈbɪlbəri/) are Eurasian low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium in the flowering plant family Ericaceae that bear edible, dark blue berries. The species most often referred to is Vaccinium myrtillus L., but there are several other closely related species.

Etymology and common names

The name "bilberry" appears to have a Scandinavian origin, possibly from as early as 1577, being similar to the Danish word bølle for whortleberry with the addition of "berry". In Scandinavian languages, terms for bilberries have names that carry the meaning "blueberry": e.g. blåbär in Swedish and blåbær in Danish and Norwegian.

The bilberry (especially Vaccinium myrtillus) is generally known as blaeberry /ˈbleɪbɛri/ in Scottish and Northern English regional dialects, and whortleberry /ˈhwɜːrtəbri/ in southern England.

Description and species

Ripe bilberry and leaves

The interiors of bilberries (top) have dark-colored flesh, while bog bilberries (bottom) have pale flesh

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. They include several closely related species, including:

• 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).

These species, with the exception of V. uliginosum, are part of section Myrtillus.

Bilberry are non-climacteric fruits with a smooth, circular outline at the end opposite the stalk, whereas blueberries retain persistent sepals there, leaving a rough, star-shaped pattern of five flaps. Bilberries grow singly or in pairs rather than in clusters, as blueberries do, and blueberries have more evergreen leaves. Bilberries are dark in color, and often appear near black with a slight shade of purple.

Bilberries and blueberries contain diverse anthocyanins, specifically anthocyanidins, including delphinidin and cyanidin glycosides. While blueberry fruit pulp is light green, V. myrtillus bilberry pulp is red or purple and V. uliginosum bog bilberry pulp is pale-colored. The high anthocyanin content of V. myrtillus may cause staining of the fingers, lips, and tongue.

Wild and cultivated harvesting

Closeup of bilberries

Bilberries are found in acidic, nutrient-poor soils throughout the temperate and subarctic regions of the world. They are difficult to grow and the fruit is small, so they are seldom cultivated. Fruits are mostly collected from wild plants growing on publicly accessible lands throughout northern and central Europe where they are plentiful – 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 American blueberry). Bilberries can be picked by a berry-picking rake like lingonberries, but are more susceptible to damage. They are softer and juicier than blueberries, making them difficult to transport. Because of these factors, fresh bilberries are only available from markets and gourmet stores. Frozen bilberries, however, are available year round in many parts of Europe.

In Iceland, bilberries (known as aðalbláber, or "prime blueberry") grow predominantly in Westfjords and the surrounding area. In most of the country, the closely related bláber occupy 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 popular activity in August when the berry season peaks.

In Ireland, the fruit is known as fraughan, from the Irish fraochán, and is traditionally gathered on the last Sunday in July, known as "Fraughan Sunday". Bilberries were also collected at the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh in August, the first traditional harvest festival of the year. The crop of bilberries was said to indicate how well the rest of the crops would fare in their harvests later in the year.

Bilberry is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species (see the list of Lepidoptera that feed on Vaccinium).

Food

Bilberry pie, tarte aux myrtilles

The fruits are eaten fresh or made into jams, fools, juices, or pies. In France and Italy, they are used as a base for liqueurs and are a popular flavouring for sorbets and other desserts. In Brittany, they are often used as a flavouring 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 popularly 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 (known for their health benefits in the treatment of diarrhoea) and with śmietana (a soured cream) or unsoured cream as a sauce for rice or pasta for a light summertime meal.

Research

One review of low-quality clinical research concluded there was no evidence that consuming bilberries improves night vision. Although bilberries have been used in traditional medicine, there are no proven health benefits or anti-disease effects from consuming them.

Diseases

Bilberry plants can suffer from bilberry blight, caused by Phytophthora kernoviae. There have been severe outbreaks in Staffordshire, England.