Taxonomy
Vaccinium myrtillus | Bilberry | Fraochán
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not protected
Native status
Native
Species Biology
Identification
- Flowers from April to July
- Low-growing deciduous undershrub
- Solitary,
drooping pale green-pink urn-shaped flowers (4-6mm long) which have 5
rolled-back lobes and are on angled stems.
- Leaves
are pale green, oval shaped with finely-toothed margins and short stalks
- Fleshy
purple-black berries occur in the late summer-autumn
Habitat
Mountains, heaths and acid woodland
Life cycle
Perennial
Ex-situ conservation
Not known
Use
Food crop
Vegetative nature
Herbaceous
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2023
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
How can you help
This species is included in our early summer flowering
plants project. If you see the species please submit your sighting. All
information is very valuable.
Full list of species included in the early summer flowering
plants project:
- Ragged Robin (Silene flos-cuculi)
- Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus
minor)
- Bog Asphodel (Narthecium
ossifragum)
- Foxglove (Digitalis
purpurea)
- Pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis
pyramidalis)
- Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis
arvensis)
- Meadowsweet (Filipendula
ulmaria)
- Guelder Rose (Viburnum
opulus)
- Navelwort
(Umbilicus
rupestris)
- Maidenhair
Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes)
- Silverweed
(Potentilla
anserine)
- Bilberry
(Vaccinium
myrtillus)
Further information
This species is included in the early summer flowering
plants project which is a collaboration between the National Biodiversity Data
Centre and the BSBI. It is hoped we can collect valuable data to improve our
knowledge of the current distribution of some common plants. All data will be
fully validated by both partners before loading to Biodiversity Maps and being
made available to the BSBI.
Vaccinium myrtillus is also a Crop Wild Relative in Ireland. It has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine and collected as a wild harvested crop in many countries to make jams, desserts and wines. In Ireland, the fruit is known as the 'Frochan' and is traditionally gathered on the last Sunday in July, known as 'Frochan' Sunday. The berries were also collected at 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.