Ericaceae

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Ericaceae
Image:Erica arborea.JPG Erica arborea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Juss.
Genera
See text.

The plant family Ericaceae (also called the heath family or ericaceous plants) are mostly lime-hating or calcifuge plants that thrive in acid soils. The family Ericaceae includes numerous plants from mostly temperate climates: cranberry, blueberry, heath, heather, huckleberry, azalea and rhododendron are well-known examples.

The Ericaceae family consists of herbs, shrubs and trees with leaves that are alternate, simple and estipulate. Plants in this family are synoecious. Flowers in the family show considerable variability. The corollas are often sympetalous with shapes ranging from narrowly tubular to funnelform or widely bowl-shaped. The corollas are often actinomorhpic but flowers in the genus Rhododendron have flowers that are often zygomorphic.^{[citations needed]}

Recent genetic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has resulted in the inclusion of the formerly recognised families Empetraceae, Epacridaceae, Monotropaceae, Prionotaceae and Pyrolaceae into Ericaceae. Most Ericaceae, except Monotropaceae, Prionotaceae and Pyrolaceae form ericoid mycorrhiza. This symbiotic relationship is considered crucial to the success of members of the family in edaphically stressful environments worldwide (Cairney and Meharg, 2003).

[edit] Genera

Acrostemon Acrotriche Agapetes Agarista Allotropa Andersonia Andromeda Anomalanthus Anthopteropsis Anthopterus Arachnocalyx Arbutus Arctostaphylos Astroloma Bejaria Brachyloma Bruckenthalia Bryanthus Calluna Calopteryx Cassiope Cavendishia Ceratiola Ceratostema Chamaedaphne Chimaphila Coccosperma Coilostigma Comarostaphylis Conostephium Corema Costera

Craibiodendron Cyathodes Daboecia Demosthenesia Didonica Dimorphanthera Diogenesia Diplarche Diplycosia Disterigma Dracophyllum Empetrum Elliottia Epacris Epigaea Enkianthus Eremia Eremiella Erica Findlaya Gaultheria Gaylussacia Gonocalyx Grisebachia Harrimanella Hemitomes Kalmia Kalmiopsis Killipiella Lateropora Ledothamnus Ledum

Leiophyllum Leucopogon Leucothoe Loiseleuria Lyonia Macleana Macnabia Malea Menziesia Mitrastylus Moneses Monotropa Monotropsis Mycerinus Nagelocarpus Notopora Oreanthes Ornithostaphylos Orthaea Orthilia Oxydendrum Pellegrinia Pentachondra Pernettyopsis Phyllodoce Pieris Pityopus Platycalyx Pleuricospora Plutarchia Polyclita Prionotes

Psammisia Pterospora Pyrola Rhododendron Rhodothamnus Richea Rusbya Salaxis Sarcodes Satyria Scyphogyne Semiramisia Simocheilus Siphonandra Sphyrospermum Stokoeanthus Styphelia Sympieza Syndsmanthus Tepuia Thamnus Themistoclesia Therorhodion Thibaudia Thoracosperma Trochocarpa Tsusiophyllum Utleya Vaccinium Woollsia Xylococcus Zenobia

[edit] External links

• Ericaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.
• Neotropical blueberries reference at New York Botanical Garden (very detailed, keys to genera and species, etc.)

[edit] References

• Cairney, JWG & Meharg, AA (2003). Ericoid mycorrhiza: a partnership that exploits harsh edaphic conditions. European Journal of Soil Science 54, 735-740.

• Walters, Dick R. and David J. Keil. Vascular Plant Taxonomy. Kendall\Hunt: 1996, Dubuqueca:Ericàcia

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