LING 97 



Like other heath plants it is u peat-loving plant, and limited largely 

 to hills where humus soil abounds, or woods. 



The fungi Giiignardia vaccinii, Calypiospora gccppertiana, Coniler 

 cluster-cup disease, E.xobasidiion vaccinii, Yaccinium leaf blister, and 

 Melampsora vacciiiioniin attack Whortleberry. It is a food plant for 

 many moths, amongst which are Small Lappet {Gastropacha i/icijo/ia), 

 Beautiful Yellow Underwing {.-ii/ar/u niyrtilli), Grapholitha vaccini- 

 CKiii, Scarce Dagger [Acronycia auricoina), Golden - rod Brindle 

 [Cloaniha solidaoiiiis), and many others. 



Vacciniuni, Pliny, is the Latin name for the [)lant. Myrtilliis is 

 from the Latin )iiyrtus, myrtle, because of the form of the leaves. 



This upland shrub is called Bilberry, Bilberry Whortle, Blackberry, 

 Blackheart, Black Whort, Black Whortle, Blaeberry, Bleaberry, 

 Blueberry, Brylocks, Bullberries, Crow-berry, Fayberry, Fraghan, 

 Hartberries, Horts, Huckle-berry, Hurtle-berry, Hurts, Whinberry, 

 Whortleberry, Whorts, Winberry, Windberry. ISlaeberry is bestowed 

 on it because blae or blea refers to the blue colour of the fruit, hence 

 "you're bkie with cowl". Under the name Fraghan the berries are 

 gathered in autumn, and women cry them out for sale. 



The berries were used as "rob" and boiled till thick, honey and 

 sugar beinsf added. They have been used to make tarts in Scotland 

 and the North. Grouse feed largely on the berries. They are eaten 

 in Devonshire with clotted cream. A purple stain for paper or linen is 

 derived from the juice. The berries are astringent. They are used in 

 cases of dysentery. In the Highlands they are eaten with milk and 

 used for jellies, and in the latter are mi.xed with whisky to give it 

 a good flavour. 



EssENTi.\L Specific Cm.\racters: — 



190. Vaccinium l\[yrtillus, L. — Shrub, stem angular, wood)', leaves 

 ovate, serrate, deciduous, flowers greenish-red, drooping, globular, waxy, 

 solitary, corolla globose, berries black, with grey bloom. 



Ling (Calluna vulgaris, Hull) 



Though it is so widespread to-day Ling is not known from any 

 early deposits. It is found in the North Temperate and Arctic Zones 

 in Arctic Europe, not in Greece or Turkey, W. Siberia, Azores, 

 Greenland, N. America. It is found also in all vice-counties of Great 

 Britain as far north as the Shetlands, ascending to 3300 ft. in the 

 Highlands. It is native in Ireland and the Channel Islands. 



Ling is essentially a heath and moorland plant, contributing so 



Vol. v. 69 



