THALAMIFLOR^ 179 



The flowers are probably pollinated largely by the 

 wind, but they may be entomophilous alsOj as the 

 flowers contain honey in small quantities. 



Birds disperse the drupes. 



The berries are eaten in the north. The fruit and 

 the leaves also are acid. 



Crowberry {Empetnmi nigrum). 



In habit and adaptation to dry conditions the 

 Crowberry resembles the Heaths, near w^hich it is 

 placed by some authorities, whereas by others it is 

 placed near the Holly. It has also aflinities with 

 Euphorbiaceag and Celastracese. 



A rare moorland plant, Crowberry is found in all 

 parts of the British Isles, being more common in the 

 north and west of England and Scotland. It ascends 

 to 4000 ft. 



Those who live in hilly districts where there are 

 heaths and moors are familiar with the Crowberry. 

 It also grows in bogs. It is found on sandy soil on 

 heaths in north-east Yorks with Ling and Whortle- 

 berry, and in Perth forms part of the heath forma- 

 tion, occurring in pinewoods in Inverness-shire. It 

 also grows on siliceous soils with Matgrass and Blue 

 Hair Grass, on upland moors in the Pennines in the 

 bog-moss association, being found in peat-beds in 

 Cotton-grass associations, on bilberry moor, heather 

 moor, on grass moor, and in subalpine moorland 

 associations. 



