LING 97 



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

 to hills where humus soil abounds, or woods. 



The fungi Guignardia vaccinii, Calyptospora gceppertiana, Conifer 

 cluster-cup disease, Exobasidium vaccinii, Vaccinium leaf blister, and 

 Melampsora vaccinioriim attack Whortleberry. It is a food plant for 

 many moths, amongst which are Small Lappet (Gastropacha ilicifolia], 

 Beautiful Yellow Underwing (Anarta myrtilli], Grapholitha vaccim- 

 cum, Scarce Dagger (Acronycta auricoma], Golden - rod Brindle 

 (Cloantha solidaginis}, and many others. 



Vaccinium, Pliny, is the Latin name for the plant. Myrtillns is 

 from the Latin myrtus, 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. Blaeberry is bestowed 

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

 "you're blae 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 being 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 mixed with whisky to give it 

 a good flavour. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



190. Vaccinium Myrtillus, L. Shrub, stem angular, woody, 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 



Voi^V. 69 



