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The '''''Vaccinium vitis-idaea''''' – often called '''lingonberry''' or '''cowberry''', also called '''foxberry''', '''mountain cranberry''', '''lowbush cranberry''', and '''partridgeberry''' (in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]) – is a small evergreen [[shrub]] in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Ericaceae]] that bears edible [[fruit]].  

'''''Vaccinium vitis-idaea''''' ('''Cowberry''' and '''Lingonberry''', also rarely called foxberry, mountain cranberry, and partridgeberry) is a small evergreen [[shrub]] in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Ericaceae]] that bears edible [[fruit]].  

It is seldom cultivated, but the fruits are commonly collected in the wild. The native habitat is the circumboreal [[forest]]s of northern [[Eurasia]] and [[North America]], extending from [[temperate]] into [[subarctic]] climates.

It is seldom cultivated, but the fruits are commonly collected in the wild. The native habitat is the circumboreal [[forest]]s of northern [[Eurasia]] and [[North America]], extending from [[temperate]] into [[subarctic]] climates.

==Varieties==

==Varieties==

There are two very similar regional [[variety (biology)|varieties]] of ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' in Eurasia and North America:

There are two very similar regional [[variety (biology)|varieties]] of ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' in Eurasia and North America:

*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''vitis-idaea'' L., Eurasia. Leaves 10–25 mm long.

*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''vitis-idaea'' L., '''Cowberry'''. Eurasia. Leaves 10–25 mm long.

*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''minus'' Lodd., North America. Leaves 7–20 mm long.

*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''minus'' Lodd., '''Lingonberry'''. North America. Leaves 7–20 mm long.

==Morphology==

==Morphology==

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The name "lingonberry" originates from the Swedish word ''lingon'' for the native cowberry. Because the names mountain cranberry and lowbush cranberry perpetuate the longstanding confusion between the cranberry and the lingonberry, some botanists have suggested that these names should be avoided. Many restaurants and nutritionists however use and recommend these alternate names to help increase acceptance and consumption of this delicacy and exceptionally nutritious fruit that is unknown in many English-speaking countries.{{fact|date=July 2007}}

The name "lingonberry" originates from the Swedish word ''lingon'' for the native cowberry. Because the names mountain cranberry and lowbush cranberry perpetuate the longstanding confusion between the cranberry and the lingonberry, some botanists have suggested that these names should be avoided. Many restaurants and nutritionists however use and recommend these alternate names to help increase acceptance and consumption of this delicacy and exceptionally nutritious fruit that is unknown in many English-speaking countries.

In the last [[canto]] of the Finnish [[national epic]], [[Kalevala]], ''Son of Marjatta'', maid Marjatta becomes pregnant from eating an enchanted lingonberry.

In the last [[canto]] of the Finnish [[national epic]], [[Kalevala]], ''Son of Marjatta'', maid Marjatta becomes pregnant from eating an enchanted lingonberry.

==Uses==

==Uses==

[[Image:LingonberryJam.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Lingonberry jam]] on [[toast]]]]

[[Image:LingonberryJam.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Lingonberry jam]] on [[toast]]]]

Lingonberries collected in the wild are a popular fruit in northern, central and eastern [[Europe]], notably in [[Finland]], [[Norway]], [[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], the Baltic Countries, [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]], and [[Karelia]] ([[Russia]]), where they can be picked on both public and private lands in accordance with the European tradition of [[Freedom to roam|"everyman's rights"]]. Because the berries are quite tart, they are almost always cooked and sweetened before eating in the form of [[lingonberry jam]], [[compote]], [[juice]], or syrup. The raw fruits are also frequently simply mashed with sugar, which preserves most of their nutrients and flavor and even enables storing them at room temperature (in closed but not necessarily sealed containers). Cowberries served this way or as compote often accompany [[game (food)|game]] meats and [[liver]] dishes. In Sweden and Norway, reindeer steak is traditionally served with gravy and cowberry sauce. Cowberry preserve is commonly eaten with meatballs and potatoes in Sweden. A traditional Finnish dish is [[sautéed reindeer]] (''poronkäristys'') with mashed potatoes and cowberries, either cooked or raw with sugar. In Poland, cowberries are often mixed with [[pear]]s to create a sauce served with poultry or game. Cowberries can also be used to replace red currants when creating the [[Cumberland Sauce|Cumberland sauce]] to give it a more sophisticated taste.

Cowberries collected in the wild are a popular fruit in northern, central and eastern [[Europe]], notably in [[Finland]], [[Norway]], [[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], the Baltic Countries, [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]], and [[Karelia]] ([[Russia]]), where they can be picked on both public and private lands in accordance with the European tradition of [[Freedom to roam|"everyman's rights"]]. Cowberries are a staple item in Sweden, and at the [[Sweden|Swedish]] retailer [[IKEA]]. It is often sold as jam and juice in the store and as a key ingredient in dishes. Because the berries are quite tart, they are almost always cooked and sweetened before eating in the form of [[lingonberry jam]], [[compote]], [[juice]], or syrup. The raw fruits are also frequently simply mashed with sugar, which preserves most of their nutrients and flavor and even enables storing them at room temperature (in closed but not necessarily sealed containers). Cowberries served this way or as compote often accompany [[game (food)|game]] meats and [[liver]] dishes. In Sweden and Norway, reindeer steak is traditionally served with gravy and cowberry sauce. Cowberry preserve is commonly eaten with meatballs and potatoes in Sweden. A traditional Finnish dish is [[sautéed reindeer]] (''poronkäristys'') with mashed potatoes and cowberries, either cooked or raw with sugar. In Poland, cowberries are often mixed with [[pear]]s to create a sauce served with poultry or game. Cowberries can also be used to replace red currants when creating the [[Cumberland Sauce|Cumberland sauce]] to give it a more sophisticated taste.

Cowberries are also popular as a wild picked fruit in [[North America]] in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], where they are locally known as partridgeberries.  In this region they are also incorporated into jams, syrups, and baked goods.

Lingonberries are also popular as a wild picked fruit in [[North America]] in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], where they are locally known as partridgeberries.  In this region they are also incorporated into jams, syrups, and baked goods.

Cowberries are an important food for bears and foxes. Caterpillars of the Coleophoridae case-bearer moths ''[[Coleophora glitzella]]'', ''[[Coleophora idaeella]]'' and ''[[Coleophora vitisella]]'' feed on its leaves.  

 

Cowberries are an important food for [[bear]]s and [[fox]]es. [[Caterpillar]]s of the [[Coleophoridae]] case-bearer moths ''[[Coleophora glitzella]]'', ''[[Coleophora idaeella]]'' and ''[[Coleophora vitisella]]'' are not known to eat anything but lingonberry leaves.  

   

   

===Nutritional properties===

===Nutritional properties===

[[Category:Ericaceae]]

[[Category:Ericaceae]]

[[Category:Fruit]]

[[Category:Fruit]]