whortleberry

…It is also used in Europe and the US for crossbreeding with highbush blueberries. [Matsui Hitoshi] Bilberry V. myrtillus L. (English name bilberry or whortleberry), closely related to the black bean tree, is a deciduous shrub that grows 20-60cm tall and is widely distributed in Europe. Its purple-black fruit has long been used as a dye, for coloring alcohol, and as an ingredient in jam. Several closely related species from America are also used in the same way; these species with purple-black fruit are commonly known as blueberries, and are cultivated locally and improved varieties are being developed. …

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "whortleberry" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…欧米でもハイブッシュブルーベリーとの交配に用いられている。【松井 仁】　クロマメノキに近縁なビルベリーV.myrtillus L.(英名bilberry∥whortleberry)は，高さ20～60cmの落葉低木で，ヨーロッパに広く分布し，黒紫色の果実は古くから染料や酒の着色，ジャムの原料などに使われる。アメリカ産の近縁数種も同様に利用され，果実が黒紫色のこの仲間は俗にブルーベリーの名で呼ばれ，局地的に栽培され品種改良も行われている。…

※「whortleberry」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報