Common heather

Common heather grows on acidic ground, which has sunlight and is well-drained. Here it can be found in the sunny dry heaths of the south facing slope of La Chalp. “La callune” in French gets its name from the Greek kallynein, which means "sweep" In the past its stems were used to make brooms. Heather has fungus at its roots (they are mycorrhized) to help absorb mineral elements from the soil. This combination is particularly useful in such a poor, acidic terrain.