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Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.

Lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderEricalesTea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
FamilyEricaceaeHeath or heather family
GenusVacciniumAncient Latin name for billberry
Speciesvitis-idaea“Grape of Mt. Ida,” according to Greek legend

About plant names...

Lingonberry is a Swedish name, though these have numerous other appellations, such as mountain cranberry. "Lingonberry" is considered preferable by many botanists, to help distinguish this species from cranberries.

Identification: Plants are small evergreen shrubs 2-7" (5-17 cm) tall. They keep their leaves all year long despite their preference for cold, often exposed mountain slopes. Leaves are less than ¾" (1.9 cm) long, usually closer to ½" (1.3 cm); dark green and shiny on top. Flowers are white or pink, and bell-shaped, about ¼" (6.3 mm) long. Berries are bright red, ¼-⅜" (6.3-10 mm) in diameter.

This Vaccinium comparision chart also includes a couple of similar-appearing species that are not Vaccinium.

Edibility: Lingonberries are collected in the wild in several areas of Europe. They are tart when fresh, but are cooked and sweetened to create jams, compote, or juice. They have vitamins and minerals, as well as other nutritional benefits.

Online References:

Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

Wikipedia

BorealForest.org

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

in Paghat's Garden

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

BorealForest.org

The Toolik↔Arctic Geobotanical Atlas

EFloras

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/18/2016 · Barred Island Preserve, Deer Isle, Maine

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 11 × 8" (26 × 19 cm)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

7/13/2015 · Mt. Mansfield, Stowe/Cambridge, Ver­mont
≈ 6 × 7" (14 × 17 cm)

 

Vaccinium vitis-idaea description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Oct 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


  

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 8 × 6" (19 × 14 cm)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/18/2016 · Barred Island Preserve, Deer Isle, Maine

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/18/2016 · Shore Acres Preserve

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/18/2016 · Shore Acres Preserve

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

7/13/2015 · Mt. Mansfield, Stowe/Cambridge, Ver­mont
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, mountain cranberry, cowberry, foxberry, red whortleberry, low bush cranberry, low bush partridgeberry, partridgeberry)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm)

Range:

About this map...