bilberry; European blueberry; common bilberry
Refers to the plant Vaccinium myrtillus, a small shrub producing dark blue berries, native to Europe. Often called bilberry or European blueberry to distinguish from cultivated blueberries.
See also: ブルーベリー
Bilberries grow wild in the mountainous regions of Europe.
The berries of the bilberry are used for jam.
ブルーベリー usually refers to cultivated highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), while セイヨウスノキ is the wild European bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), which has darker flesh and a stronger flavor.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare; the plant name is usually written in kana.
The name セイヨウスノキ literally means 'Western sour tree' (西洋 + 酸の木), referring to the plant's European origin and the tart taste of its berries. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.