#blaeberry

[wild-e-eep]

Webs and bilberry bushes #FencepostOfTheWeek

[rowanstonephotography]

heather and blaeberry carpeting the forest floor

June 2022

[rowanstonephotography-ii]

the last few blaeberries

[benvironment]

Two things starting to appear in the Lomond Hills just now. Ling and blaeberries. Summer is marching on :)

Interestingly, I visited friends in Norway in 2012 and it just so happens they live in a village called Lyngdal. I knew heather was also known as ling in the UK, but I hadn’t made the Norse connection in my head until I saw heather for sale outside a shop with the word ‘Lyng’ next to it. It instantly made sense. Lyngdal = Heather Valley 

[regnum-plantae]

Vaccinium myrtillus, Ericaceae

We are probably all quite familiar with the blueberries you can find in grocery stores, fresh, frozen and topping tarts, the size of a large pea and with translucent flesh, but those are actually the fruits of the American blueberry (V. cyanococcus), whereas what you see in the photos above is one of the Eurasian native species generally known as bilberry, or blaeberry here in Scotland. Typically a bit smaller in size than the cultivated varieties and borne singularly on low bushes, they are stronger in flavour and their flesh is bright red. 

It is a plant of great importance to wildlife and the ecology of ancient woodland, heaths (it can commonly be found growing under heather) and moors (elevated low-growing grassland), preferring well-draining acidic soils in the shade, but sadly it is in decline due to the loss of its natural habitats. 

Aside from the obvious culinary uses, the plant has also some good medicinal properties and has traditionally been used to treat a number of symptoms and ailments. It’s a natural antioxidant, reduces blood pressure and blood sugar and helps with other vascular problems; the dried leaves and berries are astringent, antiseptic and a herbal remedy to diarrhea. It is believed to help with vision problems (I took extract capsules for years growing up as my myopy became obvious). Both the leaves and the berries have been used to make green and blue/purple fabric dye. 

[rowanstonephotography-ii]

view from the blaeberry patch

[rowanstonephotography-ii]

blaeberry bush

[benvironment]

Day 21 - the assault on the senses that is the highland birch woodland. Beard lichen hanging from the trees, blaeberry on the ground and the distant purple haze of birch twigs. Lovely!