121 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS. 



Heather or Ling (Calluna vulgaris). 



The Ling is distinguished from the Heaths by the botanist 

 because its bell-shaped corolla is concealed by the longer, 

 equally coloured calyx leaves, and below these are four bracts 

 which resemble a calyx. Its leaves are triangular, very minute 

 and densely packed, overlapping each other. Like the Heaths 

 its flowers are persistent, and are to be found bleached but 

 preserving much of their original form, nine or ten months 

 after they opened. The anthers are short, and contained with- 

 in the corolla, but the style is long, and protrudes. The tough 

 wiry stems attain considerable size in the highlands of Scot- 

 land, where they serve many useful purposes. It flowers from 

 July till September. C. vulgaris is the only species. The 

 genus gets its name from the Greek Kalluno, to beautify or 

 adorn, an epithet which all who have visited the moorlands in 

 its flowering season will admit is well-bestowed. 



Mistleto (Viscum album). 



Is there a person in these islands above the age of infancy 

 who does not know the Mistleto by sight ? Why, then, let it 

 occupy space here ? Because it is one of those very well- 

 known things that we only partially know. What percentage 

 of those who took advantage last Yule-tide of the mystic 

 sanctions of the plant, and who consequently think they know 

 it so well, have seen its flowers ? or know that it has flowers ? 

 True, those of our British Mistleto are not very striking in 

 point of size or showiness ; but there are tropical species with 

 flowers both large and brilliant. 



In V. album the flowers are of two kinds, male and female, 

 each (with rare exceptions) being borne on separate plants, so 

 that cross-fertilization is imperative. They are both green, and 

 consist of a four-lobed perianth, the male with four anthers 



