Species
Calluna
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Calluna vulgaris, known as Common Heather, ling, or simply heather,[1] is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to 20 to 50 centimetres (7.9 to 20 in) tall, or rarely to 1 metre (39 in), and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade. It is the dominant plant in most heathland and moorland in Europe, and in some bog vegetation and acidic pine and oak woodland. It is tolerant of grazing and regenerates following occasional burning, and is often managed in nature reserves and grouse moors by sheep or cattle grazing, and also by light burning.
It is separated from the closely related genus Erica by its corolla and calyx each being in four parts instead of five. The flowers emerge in late summer – in wild plants these are normally mauve, but white-flowered plants also occur occasionally.
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. Willow Grouse and Red Grouse feed on the young shoots and seeds of this plant. Both adult and larva of the Heather Beetle Lochmaea suturalis feed on it, and can cause extensive mortality in some instances. The larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species also feed on the plant – see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Calluna.
When poems like Bonnie Auld Scotland speak of "fragrant hills of purple heather', when the hero of Kidnapped flees through the heather, when heather and Scotland are linked in the same sentence, the heather talked about is calluna vulgaris.[2]
Cultivation and uses
Heather is a very popular ornamental plant in gardens and for landscaping. There are many named cultivars, selected for variation in flower color and for different foliage color and growing habits.
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 decorative 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 on the North Island and the Wilderness Reserve (Te Anau) on the South Island, overgrowing native plants. Heather beetles have been released to stop the heather, with preliminary trials successful to date.
The generic name Calluna is derived from καλλύνω, a Greek word meaning 'to beautify', or 'to sweep', as the plant was used to make brooms. The specific name vulgaris is Latin for 'common'.
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. The use of heather in the brewing of modern heather beer is carefully regulated. By law[specify] 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.[citation needed]
Heather honey is a highly valued product in moorland and heathland areas, with many beehives being moved there in late summer. It has a characteristic strong taste, and an unusual texture – it is thixotropic, being a jelly until stirred, when it becomes a syrup (like other honey), but then sets again to a jelly. This makes the extraction of the honey from the comb difficult, and it is therefore often sold as comb honey.
White heather is regarded in some areas as being lucky, and sprigs of it are often sold as a charm.
Cultivars
Cultivars include ´Beoley Crimson´ (Crimson red), ‘Boskoop’ (light purple), ‘Cuprea’ (copper), 'Firefly' (deep mauve),‘Long White’ (white).
References
- ^ "ling". http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Ling.
- ^ A. Wallace, The Heather in Lore, Lyric and Lay, p.5
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Calluna vulgaris |
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Struikheide kleurt de heidevelden paars. Hij gaat bloeien als dopheide is uitgebloeid. Het duurt vier jaar voordat een heideplant gaat bloeien. Na vijftien jaar is de plant heel houtig; dan bloeit hij nauwelijks meer. Struikheide komt voor in heel Europa, West-Siberië en Klein-Azië. Het is een plant van voedselarme zand- en veengronden. Vaak zijn heidevelden ontstaan door de mens, die bossen kapte en vervolgens schapen liet grazen op de velden. In voedselarme oudere duinen zijn heidevelden min of meer natuurlijk ontstaan.
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This species typically dominates heaths, moors, bogs and grasslands, which are poor in nutrients. It also grows in acidic soils in open woodland, and can tolerate a range of moisture levels, from wet peat bogs to exposed and dry areas (3). It reaches altitudes of 750 m (2).
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Source | http://www.arkive.org/heather/calluna-vulgaris/ |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 11
Specimens with Barcodes: 18
Species With Barcodes: 1
Heather turns fields purple in the summer. It is the dominant species in the heathlands of the northern Dutch dunes and on high sandy grounds more inland. By the time bog heather has flowered, common heather starts to blossoms. It takes 3 to 4 years for a plant to flower. And after 15 years, it becomes very woody and flowerless. Common heather is an important plant for insects that consume nectar and pollen, such as mining bees, butterflies and moths.
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Rights holder/Author | Ecomare |
Source | http://www.ecomare.nl/index.php?id=3433&L=2 |
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / internal feeder
Acalles ptinoides feeds within dead twig? of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / gall
Aceria exigua causes gall of stem of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / epiphyte
fruitbody of Aleurodiscus norvegicus grows on attached twig of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / open feeder
imago of Altica longicollis grazes on leaf of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / open feeder
imago of Altica oleracea grazes on leaf of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Amanita fulva is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Amanita porphyria is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Other: minor host/prey
Plant / associate
Amara infima is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
imago of Ampedus sanguinolentus is associated with root of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / nest
female of Andrena argentata provisions nest with pollen of Calluna vulgaris
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / nest
female of Andrena fuscipes provisions nest with pollen of Calluna vulgaris
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / pathogen
Armillaria mellea s.l. infects and damages Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
subiculate apothecium of Belonopsis obscura is saprobic on old stem of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: 4-8
Plant / associate
Bradycellus collaris is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Caenopsis fissirostris is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Caenopsis waltoni is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Animal / vector
seed of Calluna vulgaris is spread by worker of Tetramorium caespitum
Plant / associate
basidiome of Cantharellula umbonata is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Ceratothrips ericae feeds on live flower of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / mycorrhiza
fruitbody of Clavaria argillacea is mycorrhizal with live root of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Coccinella hieroglyphica is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / nest
female of Colletes succinctus provisions nest with pollen of Calluna vulgaris
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Collybia alpina is saprobic on decaying litter of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Collybia dryophila is saprobic on decaying litter of Calluna vulgaris
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / pathogen
fruitbody of Collybia fusipes infects and damages live root of Calluna vulgaris
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Collybia maculata is saprobic on decayed litter of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / mycorrhiza
fruitbody of Coltricia perennis is mycorrhizal with live root of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Coniocleonus nebulosus feeds within rootstock of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / gall
Cuscuta epithymum causes gall of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Cystoderma granulosum is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Entoloma argenteostriatum is associated with live Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Entoloma cetratum is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed debris of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: early summer -
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
conidial anamorph of Erysiphe azaleae parasitises live leaf of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: captive: in captivity, culture, or experimentally induced
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Galerina cinctula is saprobic on debris of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / feeds on
Globiceps juniperi feeds on Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
pycnidium of Topospora coelomycetous anamorph of Godronia callunigena is saprobic on dead twig of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: 4-5
Foodplant / saprobe
Topospora coelomycetous anamorph of Godronia cassandrae f. callunae is saprobic on dead twig of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / pathogen
fruitbody of Heterobasidion annosum infects and damages live root of Calluna vulgaris
Other: minor host/prey
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Hygrocybe laeta var. laeta is associated with live Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / parasite
fruitbody of Hymenochaete corrugata parasitises live wood of Calluna vulgaris
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hypochnicium punctulatum is saprobic on dead stem of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Inocybe praetervisa is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / saprobe
usually superficial pseudothecium of Keissleriella subalpina is saprobic on old stem of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / sap sucker
nymph of Kleidocerys ericae sucks sap of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / saprobe
long stalked apothecium of Lachnum virgineum is saprobic on dead twig of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: 2-10
Plant / resting place / within
nest of Leptothorax interruptus may be found in root of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / open feeder
imago of Lochmaea suturalis grazes on leaf of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / pathogen
mycelium of Marasmius androsaceus infects and damages live stem of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / hemiparasite
Melampyrum sylvaticum is hemiparasitic on root of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Micrelus ericae is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Micromphale impudicum is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
sessile apothecium of Mollisia cinerea is saprobic on dead twig of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: 1-12
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Mycena galopus var. nigra is saprobic on burnt stem of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Mycena megaspora is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Mycena sanguinolenta is saprobic on stem of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / sap sucker
nymph of Nysius helveticus sucks sap of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
Oidiodendron dematiaceous anamorph of Oidiodendron tenuissimum is saprobic on dead twig of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: 1-12
Plant / associate
Orius niger is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / feeds on
adult of Orthotylus ericetorum feeds on leaf of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
acervulus of Pestalotiopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Pestalotiopsis sydowiana is saprobic on dead Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Phaeostalagmus dematiaceous dematiaceous anamorph of Phaeostalagmus cyclosporus is saprobic on dead twig of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: 1-12
Foodplant / pathogen
Phytophthora kernoviae infects and damages Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / pathogen
Phytophthora ramorum infects and damages Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse, arachnoid colony of Pithomyces dematiaceous anamorph of Pithomyces valparadisiacus is saprobic on dead twig of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / parasite
dominant Ptychogaster anamorph of Postia ptychogaster parasitises live root of Calluna vulgaris
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Psathyrella friesii is saprobic on debris of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent apothecium of Pseudophacidium ledi is saprobic on dead stem of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Pseudotomentella tristis is saprobic on dead, decayed stem of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
Spirosphaera anamorph of Spirosphaera floriformis is saprobic on dead wood of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Strophosoma capitatum is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Strophosoma fulvicorne is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Strophosoma nebulosum is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Strophosoma sus is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Suillus granulatus is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Suillus variegatus is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / sap sucker
adult of Systellonotus triguttatus sucks sap of shoot of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: late 5-mid 8
Foodplant / saprobe
gregarious, subiculate apothecium of Tapesia cinerella is saprobic on dead stem of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
subiculate apothecium of Tapesia lividofusca is saprobic on dead stem of Calluna vulgaris
Remarks: season: 5-8
Foodplant / feeds on
Tetramorium caespitum feeds on seed of Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / feeds on
scattered, erumpent pycnidium of Topospora coelomycetous anamorph of Topospora obturata feeds on leaf of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
basidiocarp of Tremella callunicola is associated with stem of Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
Trichocellus cognatus is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Tricholoma stans is associated with Calluna vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Vuilleminia macrospora is saprobic on dying stem of Calluna vulgaris
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable
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Heather flowers from July to September (4); the flowers are pollinated by insects and by the wind (2). This plant has been put to various practical uses; it has been used as fodder, fuel, thatch, bedding for livestock and humans, a packing material, and to make ropes, brooms, an orange dye, and beer. White heather is thought to be lucky, especially in Scotland (5).
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Source | http://www.arkive.org/heather/calluna-vulgaris/ |
More info for the terms: cover, fuel
Vegetation height may be a useful integrating factor for determining the
state of a stand and its fuel availability. It has been suggested that
heather be burned before it reaches 12 inches (30 cm).
Burning old stands of heather may lead to a rapid spread of rhizomatous
species (such as dwarf bilberry) when these species were present before
the fire, even in small quantities. In old heather stands where
rhizomatous species are not present, colonization by heather seedlings
may take a very long time and bare ground may remain for many years. In
both cases, the lack of rapid heather regeneration is of concern since
it is often the major forage species present on these species-poor
heaths. In addition, soil erosion continues until vegetative cover is
established, and the risk of erosion is much greater when heather growth
is delayed. Fire, therefore, may be an unsuitable form of management in
old stands of heather.
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
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