Family: Ericaceae Heather / Ling Calluna vulgaris Flowering time: July-September. Evergreen shrub. Can be abundant on drier areas of acidic heaths, moorland and bogs A bushy, erect, many stemmed shrub with dense spikes of pinkish-purple flowers with sepal-like bracts at the flower bases. Corolla-like calyx of 4 pinkish sepals, the corolla having 4 triangular lobes. The crowded, oblong leaves are stalkless and overlapping, opposite and erect. Height 20-100cm Foodplant for caterpillars including those of Beautiful Yellow Underwing, Horse Chestnut and Aristotelia ericinella

Heather / Ling, Calluna vulgaris
Studland, Dorset. September 2012