Calluna
Flowering Calluna vulgaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Genus: Calluna Salisb. Species: C. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Magnoliopsida is the Botanical name for a class of Flowering plants By definition the class will include the family Magnoliaceae, but its The Ericales are a large and diverse order of Dicotyledons including for example Tea, Persimmon, Blueberry, Brazil nut, and The Plant family Ericaceae (also called the heath family or ericaceous plants) are mostly lime -hating ( Calcifuge) Richard Anthony Salisbury FRS ( May 2, 1761 - 1829 was a British Botanist. vulgaris
Binomial name
Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull

Calluna vulgaris (also known as Ling^[1]) is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic The Plant family Ericaceae (also called the heath family or ericaceous plants) are mostly lime -hating ( Calcifuge) It is the true Heather of Europe, and National Flower of Norway. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional However it also has an affiliation to Scotland and is the most common heath in the United Kingdom. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It is a small perennial shrub growing to 20-50 cm tall (rarely to 1 m), and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on well-drained acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade. A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than A shrub or Bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of Woody plant, distinguished from a Tree Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black In Computer science, ACID ( Atomicity Consistency Isolation Durability) is a set of properties that guarantee that Database transactions are It is tolerant of moderate grazing and can regenerate following occasional burning. It is often managed in nature reserves using a light burning method. It is a common, often dominating, component of heath and moorland habitats, and also on peat bogs and in open pine forests. Heaths are Shrubland habitats characterised by open low growing woody Vegetation, found on mainly infertile Acidic soils Moorland or moor is a type of habitat found in upland areas characterised by low growing vegetation on Acidic soils A bog or mire is a Wetland type that accumulates Acidic Peat, a deposit of dead plant material &ndash usually Mosses but also This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation.

It is separated from the closely related genus Erica by its four-parted corolla and calyx. Erica is a Genus of over 700 species of Flowering plants in the family Ericaceae; two English common names both shared with some other closely A petal (from Ancient Greek petalon "leaf" "thin plate" regarded as a highly modified leaf is one member or part of the corolla A sepal (from Latin separatus "separate" + petalum "petal" is a part of the flower of Angiosperms or flower plants The flowers emerge in late summer, and in the wild species these are usually in purple or mauve shades.

Heather is an important food source for various sheep and deer which can graze the tips of the plants when snow covers low growing vegetation. Red Grouse feed on young shoots and seeds. The Red Grouse ( Lagopus lagopus scotica) is a medium sized bird of the Grouse family which is found in Heather Moorland in Great Britain Both adult and larva of the Heather Beetle Lochmaea suturalis feed on it, and can cause extensive mortality in some instances. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lochmaea suturalis, commonly referred to as the heather beetle, is a beetle of the genus Lochmaea native to north-west Europe The larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species also feed on the plant - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Heather. Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Heather ( Calluna vulgaris) is used as a food plant by the Larvae of a number of Lepidoptera Species, including

Cultivation and uses

Heather is a very popular ornamental plant in gardens and for landscaping. Ornamental plants are typically grown in the flower Garden or as House plants Most commonly they are grown for the display of their Flowers Other common A garden is a planned space usually outdoors set aside for the display cultivation and enjoyment of Plants and other forms of Nature. There are many named cultivars selected for variation in flower color, and for different foliage color and growing habits. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar

Different cultivars have flower colors ranging from white, through pink and a wide range of purples, and including reds. The flowering season with different cultivars extends from late July to November in the northern hemisphere. The flowers may turn brown but still remain on the plants over winter, and this can lead to interesting effects.

Cultivars with ornamental foliage are usually selected for reddish and golden leaf color. A few forms can be silvery grey. Many of the ornamental foliage forms change color with the onset of winter weather, usually increasing in intensity of colour. Some forms are grown for distinctive young spring foliage.

The plant was introduced to New Zealand and has become an invasive weed in some areas, notably the Tongariro National Park, overgrowing native plants. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Introduced species|Weed Invasive species is a phrase with several definitions Tongariro Heather beetles have been released to stop the heather, with preliminary trials successful to date [1]. Lochmaea suturalis, commonly referred to as the heather beetle, is a beetle of the genus Lochmaea native to north-west Europe

The generic name Calluna is derived from a Greek word meaning 'to sweep', as the plant was used to make brooms. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The specific name vulgaris is derived from a Latin word for 'common'. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome.

Heather is an ingredient in gruit, a mixture of flavourings used in the brewing of beer during the Middle Ages before the use of hops. Gruit (sometimes grut) is an old-fashioned Herb mixture used for bittering and flavoring Beer, popular before the extensive use of hops. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Hops are the female Flower cones of the hop plant ( Humulus lupulus) The use of heather in the brewing of the modern heather beer is carefully regulated. By law the heather must be cleaned carefully before brewing, as the undersides of the leaves may contain a dusting of an ergot-like fungus, which is a hallucinogenic intoxicant. Ergot is the common name of a Fungus in the Genus Claviceps that is parasitic on certain grains and grasses

References

1. ^ ling.