Vaccinium angustifolium , commonly known as wild blueberry lowbush, is a native blueberry species in eastern and central Canada (from Manitoba to Newfoundland) and the northeastern United States, growing as far south as the Great Smoky Mountains and west to the Great Lakes region.
Video Vaccinium angustifolium
Etymology
The epithet of angustifolium species is a combination of Latin words angustum meaning 'narrow', and folium meaning 'leaf'. It shares this nickname with other plant species including Epilobium angustifolium .
Maps Vaccinium angustifolium
Description
Vaccinium angustifolium is a low-growing leaf bush to as high as 60 cm, although usually the plant averages about 35 cm or less. The rhizome from Vaccinium angustifolium can sleep up to 100 years and when given sufficient amount of sunlight, soil moisture and oxygen content will grow. The leaves are turquoise in summer, changing the red colors in the fall. Leaf shape wide to ellipse. The shoots are brownish red on the stem axis. The flowers are white, bell-shaped, 5 mm long. Sweet little fruit dark blue to black, full of antioxidants and flavonoids. It grows best in forested areas, old agricultural land or open areas with well-drained acid soils. In some areas, this produces a natural blueberry cob, where it is almost the only species that covers large areas.
There may be some buds on healthy stems and each bud can be open and have some flowers. A blueberry field that has full plant coverage can have as much as 150 million flowers per acre.
The plant is tolerant to fire and its numbers are often increased in areas after forest fires. Traditionally, blueberry farmers burn their fields every few years to get rid of bushes and fertilize the soil. In French Acadian, the blueberry field is known as "brÃÆ'» lis "(from brÃÆ'» là ©  © , burned) because of that technique, which is still in use.
Interesting facts
- Blueberry lowbush is the fruit of the state of Maine.
- Wild wild bush Blueberries are also the Berry Province of Nova Scotia.
- Production of Nova Scotia province has reached more than 60 million pounds.
- Wild blueberries are the number 1 fruit crops in land export sales, and their value.
- Oxford Nova Scotia is the capital of Canada's wild blueberries.
- Wild blueberries contain antioxidants that have many health benefits including anti-aging effects, cancer inhibitory properties, cardiovascular health, urinary tract health, vision health.
- The wild Blueberries of Nova Scotia are exported to the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
- Harvesting of wild blueberries begins in August and continues until the end of September.
Distribution and habitat
Lowbush Blueberries native plants are also grown commercially in Canada, Maine, and Massachusetts, mainly harvested from illegally managed patches. It is also a favorite of recreational berry pickers, black bears, coyotes, racoons, foxes, porcupines, whitetail deer and birds. To help keep unwanted individuals out of blueberry fields and from destroying or feeding plant growers will fence their fields and connect forces or use an automatic surround sound speaker system called bird pest. The squawker bird is set on a timer system to transmit predatory bird sounds during the day and night the system can be programmed to prevent the plant feeder at night.
Pollination
During the harvest year, blueberry farmers hire bee honeycomb to put in their land for pollination. These nests are placed in fields in density ranges anywhere from 1-8 nests per acre. The nests are placed in the fields in 10-20% blooms that allow bees to have enough food in the fields instead of going elsewhere for food. The average hives remaining in the blueberry field for 2 weeks allows the bees to pollinate the various clones in the field that all bloom at different times over a two-week period.
Some farmers also use bumble bees with honeybees in the hope of maximum pollination. Bees will fly in colder and wetter weather conditions than honeybees, they also pollinate in different ways than honeybees.
Production
In 2006, the production of wild blueberries in Quebec has reached 70 million pounds (31.8 million kg). Of this, 55 million pounds (2.2 million kg) were produced from specialty blueberry farms (BleuetiÃÆ'¨re), and 15 million pounds (6.8 kg) were collected in the forest. Most blueberries, or 67.5 million pounds (30.7 million kg), have been marketed under various processed forms, and in particular in the form of wild frozen blueberries. By 2016, wild blueberry production is the highest in Quebec that reaches 115 million pounds. Production reached 60 million pounds in Nova Scotia in 2016. Rough plants in Nova Scotia is 46 thousand.
Trim
Native Americans regularly set fire to trees and shrubs in eastern Maine, to stimulate blueberry production. Modern farmers use various methods of burning or cutting to achieve this. There are a number of methods used by growers to stimulate the production of blueberries in their fields such as burning land or by using cutting machines, wild pigs, lawn mowers, etc. To cut the plant as close to the ground as possible without scalping the soil. This procedure is used to promote the spread of rhizomes underground. Some farmers use sickle-cutting machines in the fall after the crop is harvested to cut the plant leaving behind about 1 to 2 inches of stem so that farmers can burn the rest of the plants in the spring using less fuel for the fire.
Products
About 90% of lowland wild blueberries sold IQF (Individual Quick Frozen). Some fresh fruit is packed during the harvest season and sold in agricultural markets and grocery stores. There are 100% pure wild blueberry juice on the market. This delicious little strong fruit can be used to make a variety of food products such as blueberry smoothie, blueberry sauce for waffles, blueberry grunt, lemon blueberry bread, crispy blueberries, blueberry muffins, blueberry jam, blueberry martinis, and can be used for a sprinkling of cereal or yogurt.
Wild Blueberry Powder, by Vimergy, is available for medicinal purposes.
Health Facts and Information
Wild blueberries are a good source of Vitamin C and fiber foods. They contain no fat, sodium or cholesterol and only 80 calories per cup of fruit. Recent studies show that pigment in the skin of the fruit can provide health benefits for consumers. These pigments are called anthocyanins that contain antioxidants. Antioxidants in berries help to fight off compounds called free radicals that can cause cancer, heart disease, other diseases and premature aging. In a study by wild blueberries the USDA was found to have the highest antioxidant levels of 40 fruits and vegetables.
Often as an individual age they can develop or suffer memory loss and experience a decrease in their motor skills. In a study conducted by the USDA it has been shown that wild blueberries can reverse this problem and help fight the effects of aging. Antioxidants found in wild blueberry skin help the skin to maintain its elasticity over time.
Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that plagues some individuals and may be prevented by eating wild blueberries. Tanin, found in wild blueberries and cranberries, can prevent bacteria causing urinary tract infections to stick to the bladder and urinary tract walls. Thus allowing them to pass through the body without causing any harm.
Due to the dark pigment in red wine caused by anthocyanin which is the same pigment as in wild blueberries, it is proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. Make a reasonable assumption to expect that wild blueberries can have the same effect to lower the risk of heart disease.
References
External links
- Plant Profile of the United States Department of Agriculture for Vaccinium angustifolium (blueberry lowbush)
- " Vaccinium angustifolium ". Nutrition Plasma Resource Information Network (GRIN) . Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- University of Maine, Wild Blueberry in Maine
- Blueberry Wild from North America
- Growing Wild Blueberries
- The Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Producers Association
- Blueberry Van Dyk Juice
- Nova Scotia Lowbush Blueberry Blog
- Frozen Oxford Food
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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