Editing Calluna (section)

{{Short description|Flowering plant in the heather family}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = CallunaVulgaris.jpg
|image_caption = Flowering ''Calluna vulgaris''
|display_parents = 3
|genus = Calluna
|parent_authority = [[Richard Anthony Salisbury|Salisb.]]
|species = vulgaris
|authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) Hull
}}

'''''Calluna vulgaris''''', '''common heather''', '''ling''', or simply '''heather''',<ref>{{cite web|last=Matveev|first=Vladimir|url=http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Ling|title=Ling – definition from|publisher=Biology-Online.org|access-date=2010-01-27}}</ref> is the sole species in the [[genus]] '''''Calluna''''' in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Ericaceae]]. It is a low-growing [[evergreen]] [[shrub]] growing to {{convert|20|to|50|cm|in|0}} tall, or rarely to {{convert|1|m|in|-1}} and taller,<ref>{{cite book |last=Coats |first=Alice M.  |author-link= |date=1964 |title=British Shrubs and Their Histories |edition=1992 |location=London, England, UK |publisher=London Press |page=45 |quote=In favorable conditions, old plants can grow to the height of a man, and have hidden many a fugitive}}</ref> and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on [[acid]]ic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade.

It is the dominant plant in most [[heath|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 moor]]s by sheep or cattle grazing, and also by light burning.