| Family: | Ericaceae |
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| Common name: | heath family [Zomlefer, pp. 77-81] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 100 genera; ~3,000 species U.S.: 25 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 22 genera |
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Monotropaceae (Indian pipe;saprophytes) within the Ericaceae. |
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| Flower | |
|---|---|
K.GIF) Co(4-5) S8-10 P (ol).GIF) |
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| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | solitary , raceme, panicle, or corymb |
| Calyx (sepals): | 4 to 5 more/less connate at base |
| Corolla (petals): | 4 to 5 fused at base, often bell-shaped (=campanulate) or urn shaped (=urceolate), white or brightly colored |
| Androecium: | twice the petal number, two series; filaments often flattended, sometimes S-shaped; anthers often open with terminal pore, pollen dispersed as tetrads, usually held together by viscin threads. |
| Gynoecium: | 4 to 5 united carpels, superior ovary (=hypogynous) or inferior ovary (=epigynous), single style, axile placentation |
| Fruit: | capsule, drupe, or berry |
| Other features: | Petals and stamens usually inserted on a floral disc that produces nectar. |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| Leaves: | usu. alternate, simple, often leathery and evergreen, sometimes needle-like, exstipulate, |
| Life-history: | perennial |
| Habit: | woody shrubs, rarely trees or herbs |
| Distribution & Ecology: | temperate regions of both hemispheres diversity centers in w. China and s. Africa primarily on acidic soils, all appear to be obligately mycorrhizal |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Rhododendron, rhododendron, azalea Kalmia, mountain laurel Vaccinium, blueberry, huckleberry, cranberry Chimaphila, pipsissewa Gaultheria, salal Arbutus, madrone Arctostaphylos, manzanita, kinnikinnik Phyllodoce, mountain heather |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | Gaultheria, wintergreen (oil) Vaccinium, blueberry, huckleberry, cranberry |
| Ornamentals: | Erica, heath Rhododendron, rhododendron, azaleas (>700 spp. cultivated) |
| Weedy and pest species: | Kalmia, poisonous to sheep ("lambkill") |
| Examples | Ericaceae Arbutus |
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| Ericaceae Arctostaphylous |
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| Ericaceae Gaultheria |
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| Ericaceae Phyllodoce |
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| Ericaceae Rhododendron |
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| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
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