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Billberry


Bilberries are any of several primarily Eurasian species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae), bearing edible, nearly black berries. The species most often referred to is Vaccinium myrtillus L., but there are several other closely related species.

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". The bilberry (especially Vaccinium myrtillus) is also known by a number of other English names including blaeberry /ˈblbɛri/ in Scotland,whortleberry /ˈhwɜːrtəlbɛri/ in southern England, and w(h)imberry or w(h)inberry in south Wales and along the Anglo-Welsh border amongst other places.

Bilberries – which are native to Europe, including the British Isles – are to be distinguished from North American blueberries, although the two species are closely related, being of the same Vaccinium genus. Bilberry fruits have a smooth, circular outline at the end opposite their point of attachment, whereas blueberries retain persistent sepals there, leaving a rough, star-shaped pattern of five flaps.


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