Ericaceae

The Ericaceae ( ) are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with about 4,250 known species spread across 124 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants. The many well known and economically important members of the Ericaceae include the cranberry, blueberry, huckleberry, rhododendron (including azaleas), and various common heaths and heathers (e.g. Erica, Cassiope, Daboecia, and Calluna).

The Ericaceae ( ) are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with about 4,250 known species spread across 124 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants. The many well known and economically important members of the Ericaceae include the cranberry, blueberry, huckleberry, rhododendron (including azaleas), and various common heaths and heathers (e.g. Erica, Cassiope, Daboecia, and Calluna). ==Description== The Ericaceae contain a morphologically diverse range of taxa, including herbs, dwarf shrubs, shrubs, and trees. Their leaves are usually evergreen, alternate or whorled, simple and without stipules. Their flowers are hermaphrodite and show considerable variability. The petals are often fused (sympetalous) with shapes ranging from narrowly tubular to funnel-form or widely urn-shaped. The corollas are usually radially symmetrical (actinomorphic) and urn-shaped, but many flowers of the genus Rhododendron are somewhat bilaterally symmetrical (zygomorphic). Anthers open by pores. Epacridoideae Arn. (=Styphelioideae Sweet ) (35 genera, 545 species) Vaccinioideae Arnott (50 genera, 1580 species) ==References== ==External links== Ericaceae at The Plant List Ericaceae, Epacridaceae , Empetraceae, Monotropaceae, and Pyrolaceae at The Families of Flowering Plants (DELTA) Ericaceae at the Encyclopedia of Life Ericaceae at the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website Ericaceae at the online Flora of North America Ericaceae at the online Flora of China Ericaceae at the online Flora of Pakistan Ericaceae at the online Flora of Chile Epacridaceae at the online Flora of New Zealand Epacridaceae at the online Flora of Western Australia Ericaceae at Ericaceae.org Ericaceae at Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Neotropical Blueberries at the New York Botanical Garden

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