| Calluna | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowering Calluna vulgaris | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Subfamily: | Ericoideae |
| Tribe: | Ericeae |
| Genus: | Calluna Salisb. |
| Species: | C. vulgaris
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull
| |
Calluna vulgaris, common heather, ling, or simply heather,[1] is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the flowering plant family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing evergreen shrub growing to 20 to 50 centimetres (8 to 20 in) tall, or rarely to 1 metre (40 in) and taller,[2] and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade.
It is the dominant plant in most heathland and moorland in Europe, and in some bog vegetation and acidic pine and oak woodland. It is tolerant of grazing and regenerates following occasional burning, and is often managed in nature reserves and grouse moors by sheep or cattle grazing, and also by light burning.
- ^ Matveev, Vladimir. "Ling – definition from". Biology-Online.org. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
- ^ Coats, Alice M. (1964). British Shrubs and Their Histories (1992 ed.). London, England, UK: London Press. p. 45.
In favorable conditions, old plants can grow to the height of a man, and have hidden many a fugitive