Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is a small evergreen shrub in the genus Vaccinium which bears edible berries. It is also known as foxberry, cowberry, quailberry, mountain cranberry, red whortleberry, lowbush cranberry, and mountain bilberry. Lingonberries are commonly collected in the wild and the plant is seldom cultivated. Lingonberry is a popular fruit in northern, central and eastern Europe.
Lingonbery shrubs can grow to 10-40 cm tall and have a compact habit. The plants grow best in partial shade, in moist and acidic soils, can tolerate nutrient-poor soil but not alkaline soils. The plants spread by underground rhizomes. The flowers are white, bell-shaped, and are produced in early summer. The fruit, red and acidic, is a false berry, ripening in late summer to autumn.
Lingonberries have a tart taste, so they are normally cooked and sweetened before consume, in forms like lingonberry jam, compote, juice, or syrup. The berries contain plentiful of organic acids, vitamin C, provitamin A, vitamin B-complex, and potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Lingonberries are an important food source for bears and foxes.
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