130 THE HEATH FAMILY. 



HABITATS AND LOCALITIES. 

 1. Common Heather — [Calliina vulgaris.) 

 Heaths, moors, in dry doughs, and scrubby places ; loving also the 

 steep banks of wooded ravines that lie faceward to the sun ; abundant 

 everywhere. Mere Clough ; Summerseat Woods ; remarkably fine at 

 Greenfield, where it is collected for making besoms, and on the borders 

 of Carrington Moss. Fl. August, September. 



Curtis, ii. 322; E. B. xv. 1013 (both as Erica vulgaris). 

 The sprays of this charmiDg plant, if gathered just before perfection, retain 

 their colour for years, and make very pretty parlour ornaments. The young 

 stems supply an excellent example of imbricated leaves, and might have furnished 

 the patterns for some of the closely-woven gold chains used for watch-guards. 

 Few flowers yield more honey ; aud since they are twentj'fold more numerous in 

 the same space than those of any other plant, the bees collect their harvest with 

 rapidity. There is a variety with white blossoms, often cultivated in gardens, 

 another of a rich red, and a third vnth the flowers double. A fourth variety has 

 the stems covered with down. The conspicuous part of the flower is the inner 

 calyx. 



2. Crimson Heath — {Erica cinerea.) 

 Dry moorlands aud hilly wildernesses. Fine and abundant at 

 Greenfield, and in the most charming luxuriance aud plenty at Staly- 

 bridge Brushes. Sparingly on Alderley Edge and Hale Moss. 

 A white variety has been gathered at Greenfield. Fl. July, August. 

 Curtis, i. 08 ; E. B. xv. 1015. 

 The flowers turn jiurple the day after they have been gathered, and retain this 

 colour indefinitely. They are so diy and juiceless tliat, even when fresh, they 

 rustle as if withered. 



3. Blushing-maiden Heath— (£'?'(ca TctraUx.) 

 Heaths, moors, and mosses, abundant. Carrington Moss ; Alderley 

 Edge. Fl. June — September. 



Curtis, i. 21 ; E. B. xv. lOU ; Baxter, vi. 418. 

 The blossoms seem a cluster of waxy berries rather than flowers ; they retain 

 their colour longer than those of the E. cinerea, and are sometimes found pure 

 white. In the or.Iiimry state, the part of tlie corolla next to the stem is of a 

 lighter colour than that which is exposed, where it deepens to a delicate blush, 

 sometimes amounting to a fine full crimson. 



4. liEAitnERRV — [Arctostnphylos Uva-iirsi.) 

 On our high moorlands, not uncommon. Hills above Tintwistle 

 and liiiwtenstall ; Greenfield ; and on grizzly Kinder-Scout. Fl. May. 

 K. B. X. 711 (as Arhntu» Uva-ursi) ; Baxter, vi. 502. 



