Brezo, heather

Description:

It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to 20 to 50 centimetres tall, or rarely to 1 metre and taller. 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. Calluna is differentiated from Erica by its corolla and calyx each being in four parts instead of five. Calluna has small scale-leaves (less than 2–3 mm long) borne in opposite and decussate pairs, whereas those of Erica are generally larger and in whorls of 3-4, sometimes 5. The flowers emerge in late summer; in wild plants these are normally mauve, but white-flowered plants also occur occasionally. Unlike Erica, Calluna sometimes sports double flowers. Calluna is sometimes referred to as "Summer (or Autumn) Heather" to distinguish it from Erica ("Winter (or Spring) Heather").

Habitat:

Found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade. At the banks of miño River, Ribeira Sacra, close to Escairon, Galicia.

Notes:

It has a lot of spanish names: argaña, aulaga, azuleja, bercol, berecilla, bereza, berezo, berezo negro, bermeja, berozo, bierco, biercol, biercol merino, biércol, biércol merino, bércol, brécol, brecina, brecinilla, brezo, brezo común, brezo de lastra, bruga, bruza, campanita, carpaza, charliza, cherliz, chupe, escobas de brecina, escobas mogarizas, ganzo, garbeña, gato, gorbiza, mogariza, olaga, orbezo, pan de queso, paraíso, perrito, pica la miel, queiriño, querihuela, quirihuela, quiroga, quirola, quírola, reguarno, reguazno, sardino, tanarro, uces, urce, urcias, urcina, urz