Calluna
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| Calluna | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image Calluna_vulgaris_1.jpg Flowering Calluna vulgaris | ||||||||||||||
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Calluna is the name of a monospecific genus in the family Ericaceae. The solitary species is Calluna vulgaris, which is the true Heather of Europe. It is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor.
Heather is an important food source for various animals which inhabit heathland and moorland. Red Grouse feed on young shoots. Both adult and larva of the Heather Beetle Lochmaea suturalis feed on it, and can cause extensive mortality in some instances. The larva of Lepidoptera species including Emperor Moth, The Engrailed, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Autumnal Rustic, True Lover's Knot and Ingrailed Clay also feed on the plant. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the larva of another moth, the Double-striped Pug.
Heather is a popular ornamental plant in gardens, with many named cultivars selected for variation in flower colour.
The plant was introduced to New Zealand and has become an invasive weed in some areas, notably the Tongariro National Park, overgrowing native plants. Heather Beetles have been released to stop the heather, with preliminary trials successful to date [1] (http://pest.cabweb.org/Journals/BNI/Bni22-2/Gennews.htm).Template:Plant-stub
ca:Bruc da:Hedelyng (Calluna) de:Besenheide ja:カルーナ属 nl:Struikhei sv:Ljung