CLASS Till. ORDER I.] CALLUNA. 563 



base, imbricated in four rows on the young branches. Inflorescence 

 terminal, leafy, one sided racemes, of numerous flowers, each flower on 

 a short axillary drooping peduncle, the bractea imbric%ted, the outer 

 ones green and spurred at the base, the inner coloured like the calyx, 

 and fringed on the margin. Calyx of four oblong smooth coloured 

 segments, concave, longer than the corolla, and closing over it 

 Corolla bell-shaped, deeply cut into four lanceolate segments, smooth 

 and coloured like the calyx, of a fine deep rose colour, from which it 

 varies lo white, which is not uncommon, and sometimes they are very 

 double, resembling small roses. Stamens about as long as the corolla, 

 with short curved filaments, with oblong anthers, of two conical 

 separate cells, united at the base, each with a short spur at the base, 

 bursting laterally near the apex. Style simple, longer than the 

 stamens, with an obtuse four notched stigma. Capsule inclosed in the 

 persistent calyx. Seeds numerous, small. 



Habitat. Heaths and Moors, common everywhere; the variety 

 y. plena Jlora near Carclew, Cornwall. Miss Warren. 



Shrub ; flowering from June to August. 



This species, the Ling, together with Erica tetralix and E. cinerea, 

 are commonly called without discrimination Heather ; they are fre- 

 quently all growing together on heaths and alpine moors, which would 

 be otherwise barren, and where scarcely any other plants will grow ; 

 and it is not only highly ornamental in clothing them withits low thick 

 bushes, but for two or three months in the year adorns them with a 

 rich profusion of its delicate flowers ; for 

 " On Caledonian hills sublime 



Spreads its dark mantle, where the Bees delight 



To seek their purest honey, flourishes 



Sometimes with bell-like Amethysts, and then 



Paler, and shaded like the maiden's cheek 



With gradual blushes ; others while as white 



As rime that hangs upon the frozen spray. 



Of this old Scotia's hardy mountaineers 



Their rustic couches form ; and there enjoy 



Sleep, which beneath his velvet canopy 



Luxurious Idleness implores in vain." 



Mrs. C. Smith. 



Not only is the heather employed by the Highlanders to make their 

 beds, but the walls of their cottages are made with it, intermixed with 

 mud, as a cement ; it is also their thatch for the roofs, and is twisted 

 into ropes to make lattice work for the windows, &c.; it, with the peat 

 which its decayed leaves and stems assist in forming, is their chief 

 fuel, and its young tops are used to make a kind of yellow dye to 

 tinge their home spun yarns, made from the fleece of their flocks, 

 which, when other food is scarce, feed upon the tender shoots of the 

 heather. It is not, however, a favourite food of cattle, but supports 

 vast numbers of insects, and affords covering and an abundant supply 



