FLOWERS OF THE MOORLAND 



1037 



HEATHER 



The Heather, or Ling [CaUitna vulgaris). 

 is often confused with the Heaths or Bell- 

 flowered Heathers, although the difference 

 is somewhat great. In the Ling, for 

 instance, the leaves are very short and 

 placed in pairs opposite to each other, and 

 also the purple corolla is shorter than the 

 calyx, which is also coloured ; the flowers, 

 too, are arranged in small clusters all along 

 the stems. In the Heaths, or Bell-flowered 

 Heathers, the coloured corolla is always 

 longer than the calyx, and the leaves are 

 arranged in threes or fours along the stem. 



The Ling is a member of the Ericaceae, 



a family which includes many beautiful 

 plants, such as the Azalea, Rhodrxlendron, 

 Arbutus, and Kalmia of f(^reign climes. 

 Great use is made of the plant for thatch- 

 ing, making brooms, and so on, and it is 

 only where the Heather grows that 

 grouse and other moor game birds can 

 live ; the honey collected from its flowers 

 has a great reputation, it is of a 

 dark colour, and has a very distinctive 

 flavour. The names Heath, Heather, and 

 Ling all appear to come from old Anglo- 

 Saxon words connected with heat and fuel, 

 implying that these plants were used for 

 firing in ancient days. 



CKOSS-LKAVED HEATH. 



