Bilberries (/ˈbɪlbəri/) areEurasian low-growingshrubs in the genusVaccinium in theflowering plant familyEricaceae that bear edible, dark blue berries. They resemble but are distinct from North Americanblueberries.
The species most often referred to isVaccinium myrtillus L., but the term describes several other closely related species.
The name "bilberry" appears to have aScandinavian origin, possibly from as early as 1577, being similar to the Danish wordbølle forwhortleberry with the addition of "berry".[1] In Scandinavian languages, terms for bilberries have names that carry the meaning "blueberry": e.g.blåbär in Swedish andblåbær in Danish and Norwegian.[citation needed]
The bilberry (especiallyVaccinium myrtillus) is generally known asblaeberry/ˈbleɪbɛri/ in Scottish and Northern English regional dialects,[2] andwhortleberry/ˈhwɜːrtəbri/ in southern England.[2]
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Bilberries—which are native to Europe—are different from North Americanblueberries, although the species are closely related and belong to the same genus,Vaccinium.
Bilberry are non-climacteric fruits with a smooth, circular outline at the end opposite the stalk, whereas blueberries retain persistentsepals there, leaving a rough, star-shaped pattern of five flaps.[3] 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 diverseanthocyanins, specificallyanthocyanidins, includingdelphinidin andcyanidinglycosides.[4][5] While blueberry fruit pulp is light green,V. myrtillus bilberry pulp is red or purple andV. uliginosum bog bilberry pulp is pale-colored. The high anthocyanin content ofV. myrtillus may cause staining of the fingers, lips, and tongue.[4]
The termbilberries can describe several closely related species, which (except forV. uliginosum) are part ofsectionMyrtillus:[6]
Bilberry plants can suffer from bilberry blight,[7] caused byPhytophthora kernoviae. There have been severe outbreaks inStaffordshire, England.[8]
Bilberry is used as a food plant by thelarvae of someLepidoptera species.[citation needed]
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Bilberries are found inacidic, nutrient-poorsoils throughout thetemperate andsubarctic 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 ofSweden contains bilberry bushes, where it is called blåbär (lit. "blueberry", which is a source of confusion with the American blueberry).[9] Bilberries can be picked by aberry-picking rake likelingonberries, 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 asaðalbláber, or "prime blueberry") grow predominantly inWestfjords and the surrounding area. In most of the country, the closely relatedbláber occupy the same habitat. Both species are commonly found growing withdwarf birch andcrowberries. 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.
The fruits are eaten fresh or made intojams,fools,juices, orpies. In France and Italy, they are used as a base forliqueurs and are a popular flavouring forsorbets and other desserts. InBrittany, they are often used as a flavouring forcrêpes. In the Vosges and theMassif Central, bilberry tart (tarte aux myrtilles) is a traditional dessert. In Romania, they are used as a base for a liqueur calledafinată – the name of the fruit in Romanian isafină. In Nordic countries, they are eaten fresh or made into jams and other dishes, including bilberry pie (Finnishmustikkapiirakka, Swedishblåbärspaj) andblåbärssoppa, a bilberry soup served hot or cold. In Iceland they are popularly eaten withskyr (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 asjagodzianka, in jams (known for their health benefits in the treatment ofdiarrhoea) and withśmietana (a soured cream) or unsoured cream as a sauce for rice or pasta for a light summertime meal.[citation needed]
One review of low-qualityclinical research concluded there was no evidence that consuming bilberries improvesnight vision.[10] Although bilberries have been used intraditional medicine, there are no proven health benefits or anti-disease effects from consuming them.[11]
In Ireland, the fruit is known asfraughan, from theIrishfraochán, and is traditionally gathered on the last Sunday in July, known as "Fraughan Sunday". Bilberries were also collected at the Celtic festival ofLughnasadh 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.[citation needed]
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