Common Heather


Common Heather
Taken at New Lanark on 5th September 2019 using Panasonic Lumix LX5 in macro mode.

Common Heather.

Species:
Order:
Family:
Habit:
AKA:

Calluna vulgaris.
Ericales.
Ericaceae.
Perennial Shrub

Habitat:
Height:
Flowers:
Feature:

Heathland, moorland, bog vegetation and acidic pine and oak woodland.
20 - 50 cms.
Late summer.
Heather is an important food source for sheep and deer which can graze the tips of the plants when snow covers low-growing vegetation. Willow Grouse and Red Grouse feed on the young shoots and seeds of this plant. Both adult and larva of the Heather Beetle, Lochmaea Suturalis feed on it and the larvae of a number of lepidoptera also feed on the plant, notably the small emperor moth Saturnia Pavonia.