lingonberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dry ground cranberry
• foxberry
• lingberry
• lingonberry
• mountain cranberry
• northern mountain cranberry
• partridgeberry
• rock cranberry
• Cowberry
• alpine cranberry
• lingen
• lingenberry
• partridge-berry
• Lowbush Cranberry
• Redberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vaccinium punctatum var. ellipticum
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea f. minus
• Myrtillus exigua
• Vitis-idaea punctifolia
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea f. pyricarpum
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. major
• Vitis-idaea punctata var. minor
• Vaccinium jesoense
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea f. major
• Vaccinium pulchellum
• Vaccinium punctatum
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. pumilum
• Vaccinium punctifolium
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea f. microphyllum
• Vaccinium minus
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. ovata
• Vaccinium minus
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea subsp. minus
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. minus
• Rhodococcum vitis-idaea
• Vitis-idaea punctata
• Rhodococcum minus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Ericales, it is a member of the Ericaceae family. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Vaccinium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally within the territories of Denmark and Finland. Its range also extends to the island of Iceland and the Faroe Islands, known as Føroyar. Additionally, the species is present throughout the landscape of Great Britain. These locations highlight its preference for the specific environmental conditions found in northern latitudes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vaccinium vitis-idaea is characterized by its ability to thrive in harsh, high-altitude, and northern environments, typically occupying habitats such as arctic regions, tundra, and sandy or stony places. This species demonstrates a significant vertical distribution, with an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 900 m AMSL to a maximum of 3200 m AMSL. Within this broad altitudinal gradient, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2050 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to the specialized soil conditions and climatic constraints found in subalpine and alpine ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

arctic, sand, stony places, tundra

Genetics

The genetics of Vaccinium vitis-idaea are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that plays a significant role in its evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. The fundamental genetic basis of the species is defined by its haploid number, where the ploidy level is denoted by the value n, representing the basic set of chromosomes found in its gametic cells. While the species is primarily known to function as a diploid, studies in the genus Vaccinium often reveal a diverse range of cytogenetic variations, including instances of polyploidy that can influence fruit size, antioxidant concentration, and environmental resilience. This genetic framework governs the inheritance of essential metabolic pathways, particularly those responsible for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites like polyphenols and anthocyanins, which are critical to its medicinal properties. The stability of its genome, balanced by its specific ploidy level, allows the plant to maintain high genetic diversity across various subarctic and temperate habitats.

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Vaccinium vitis-idaea is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a chamaephyte, its reproductive buds are located close to the soil surface, protected by the ground or leaf litter during unfavorable conditions. This plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous photosynthetic potential, despite the seasonal changes in its environment.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vaccinium vitis-idaea is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.4 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.163 m. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, this species is self-supporting and does not require external structures for vertical growth.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height mean:

0.163333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vaccinium vitis-idaea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, typical of many temperate woody species, and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its foliar morphology is defined by elliptic leaf forms with entire margins, notably lacking any leaf thorns or spines. The leaves exhibit a specific size distribution, with a mean length of 1.35 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 2 cm) and a width ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 0.615 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 76.56 cm²/g, reflecting its structural investment in leaf tissue relative to its mass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.35 cm

Leaf length min:

0.7 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf size mean:

0.615 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

0.8 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

76.56 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vaccinium vitis-idaea is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in June, featuring small inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.01 m to a maximum of 0.015 m. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with bees serving as a primary pollinator. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces an indehiscent fruit type classified as a berry, which has a mean width of 0.77 cm. Seed dispersal is zoochorous, specifically through an endozoochorous mechanism, where seeds are dispersed via the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a minimum mass of 0.00023 g, a maximum mass of 0.0003 g (3e-04 g), and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0258 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.77 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.015 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.01 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

3e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0258018333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00023 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vaccinium vitis-idaea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Molecular nutrition & food research
2. Voprosy virusologii
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemicals

Vaccinium vitis-idaea has 72 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include arbutin, Epicatechin, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, fructose.

arbutin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Epicatechin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Voprosy pitaniia

beta-carotene

1. Dr. Duke
2. Voprosy pitaniia

fructose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Voprosy pitaniia

glucose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Voprosy pitaniia

pectin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Voprosy pitaniia

polyphenols

1. Microbiological research
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular nutrition & food research

sucrose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Voprosy pitaniia

Activities

Vaccinium vitis-idaea has 565 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular nutrition & food research

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Vaccinium vitis-idaea has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include urinary tract infections, Helicobacter pylori, aging, diabetic complications, hepatic steatosis.

Urinary tract infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Urological research

Helicobacter pylori

1. FEMS microbiology letters

Aging

1. GeroScience

Diabetic complications

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hepatic steatosis

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Insulin resistance

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Lifespan

1. GeroScience

Metabolic diseases

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tick-borne encephalitis virus

1. Voprosy virusologii

Preparations

Vaccinium vitis-idaea has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, Rh.v. extract, aqueous extracts of berries, water extract, water extracts.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Urological research
3. Microbiological research

Rh.v. extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Aqueous extracts of berries

1. Voprosy virusologii

Water extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Water extracts

1. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek