Kalonka, near Łódź

Native to northern Europe, but is now also found in parts of North America and Asia. Bees feeding plant. Edible plant - fruits raw or cooked, sweet and very tasty; a tea is made of the dried leaves. Herbal plant - the dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of complaints, an infusion is strongly astringent, diuretic, tonic and an antiseptic for the urinary tract, it can also lower blood sugar levels and can be helpful in the treatment of diabetes; another report says that the leaves can be helpful in pre-diabetic states but that they are not an alternative to conventional treatment; a distilled water made from the leaves is an excellent eyewash for soothing inflamed or sore eyes; a decoction of the leaves or bark is applied locally in the treatment of ulcers and in ulceration of the mouth and throat; whilst the fresh fruit has a slightly laxative effect upon the body, when dried it is astringent and is commonly used in the treatment of diarrhoea; the dried fruits are also antibacterial and a decoction is useful for treating diarrhoea in children; the skin of the fruits contains anthocyanin and is specific in the treatment of hemeralopia (day-blindness); fruits are a rich source of anthocyanosides, which have been shown experimentally to dilate the blood vessels, which makes them a potentially valuable treatment for varicose veins, haemorrhoids and capillary fragility. Useful plant - a green dye is obtained from the leaves and the fruit and is used to colour fabrics; a blue or black dye is obtained from the fruits, which can be used as an ink.