Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull (Ericaceae) showing different leaf sizes (six sterile plants: Finland, Siuntio, Flyt, 1989; fertile plant: Finland, Eckerö, Marby, 1980). – Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimens). – The fertile plant possesses unusually short leaves, the middle three plants have unusually long leaves while the three plants at the bottom represent the common type. The inserted image at the upper right corner shows a twig from each of these plants with different leaf sizes. Seedlings that have grown rapidly may have tall leaves; however, all the sterile young plants in the image grew together in a somewhat disturbed habitat. Clear differences in leaf size has also been observed between adjacent old plants of Finnish C. vulgaris in established habitats.
Created March 17, 2004.