- Vaccinium myrtillus
-
Vaccinium myrtillus 
Bilberry in flower Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Genus: Vaccinium Species: V. myrtillus Binomial name Vaccinium myrtillus
L.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.[1]
Vaccinium myrtillus was voted the County flower of Leeds in 2002 following a poll by the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife.[2]
Contents
Range
Vaccinium myrtillus is found in Europe, northern Asia, Greenland, Western Canada, and the Western United States.[3]
Uses
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.[4][5]
The bilberry fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams.[4]
Leaf
Bilberry leaf is used for different conditions, including diabetes. It is used as a medicinal plant.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Vaccinium myrtillus L., GRIN Taxonomy for Plants, citing Wiersema, J. H. & B. León (1999), World economic plants: a standard reference, and Huxley, A., ed. (1992), The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
- ^ Plantlife website County Flowers page
- ^ http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VAMY2&mapType=nativity&photoID=vamy2_001_ahp.tif USDA . accessed 11.10.2010
- ^ a b c http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bilberry/ . accessed 8/30/2010
- ^ http://www.herbmed.org/herbs/Herb132.htm . accessed 8/30/2010
External links
- USDA Treatment - Vaccinium myrtillus
- U.S. National Institute of Health: Bilberry webpage
- Vaccinium myrtillus in Plantarium Database - A Photo Guide.
Categories:- Vaccinium
- Berries
- Flora of Europe
- Flora of Asia
- Flora of Northeast Asia
- Flora of Greenland
- Flora of Western Canada
- Flora of the Western United States
- Flora of the Rocky Mountains
- Flora of New Mexico
- Flora of Oregon
- Flora of Finland
- Flora of Russia
- Medicinal plants
- Ericaceae stubs
- Fruit stubs
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