HEATH FAMILY 



307 



small -floivers ; calyx of 4-coloured sepals, longer than the corolla ; 

 corolla bell-shaped, 4-cleft, persistent, lilac ; stamens 8 ; capsule 

 4-chambered, septicidal ; seeds few in each chamber. (Name 

 from the Greek kalluno, I cleanse, from the use of the twigs to 

 make brooms.) 



I. C. vulgaris (Ling, or Heather). — The only species. The 

 small leaves are mere or less downy (sometimes even hoary), and, 

 being arranged in opposite and decussating 

 pairs, give the stem a 4-sided appearance. 

 There are 4 small green bracts below each 

 flower, and 4 rose-coloured sepals concealing 

 the very small, bell-shaped, 4-cleft corolla. — 

 Heaths and moors ; abundant. The flowers 

 persist long after the fruit is ripe, often, indeed, 

 until the next year's flowering. A beautiful 

 double-flowered variety has been found in 

 Cornwall. — Fl. June — August. Perennial. 



5. ERfcA (Heath). — Wiry, much-branched 

 under-shrubs with small, narrow, stiff, generally 

 whorled leaves ; bracteate flowers ; sepals 4 ; 

 corolla bell-shaped, tubular or urceolate ; 

 stamens 8 ; capsule 4-chambered, 4-valved, 

 loculicidal, and septifragal. (Name from the 

 Greek ereike.) 



1. E. cilidris (Ciliated Heath). — By far the 

 most beautiful of all the British species ; leaves 

 3 or 4 in a whorl, downy above, glaucous 

 beneath ; -(lowers in terminal, interrupted, one- 

 sided, spike-like racemes, ovoid, half-an-inch 

 long, crimson, enclosing the stamens. — Sandy 

 heaths, Cornwall ; near Corfe Castle, Dorset ; 

 and Galway. — Fl. June — September. Peren- 

 nial. 



2. E. Tetralix (Cross-leaved Heath. — Well 

 distinguished from all other English species by 

 its narrow, fringed leaves being placed cross-wise, and by its 

 terminal, one-sided heads of drooping, rose-coloured flowers. The 

 part of the flower nearest the stem is of a lighter colour than that 

 which is exposed, where it deepens to a delicate blush, the whole 

 flower appearing as if modelled in wax. It is sometimes found 

 of a pure white. Heaths ; abundant. — Fl. July — September. 

 Perennial. 



3. E. Mackdyi (Mackay's Heath), differing in being more 

 X 2 



CALLUNA VULGARIS 



{Ling, or Heather). 



