Home › Ericaceae (heath family)

Native range: worldwide

Well-known members: rhododendrons, blueberry, huckleberry, heath & heather

Leaves:

  • ~alternate
  • simple
  • entire or serrate margin
  • ~leathery, thick

Flowers:

  • infl. – raceme, panicule, or corymb or solitary
  • radial symmetry
  • ~bilateral symmetry
  • usually calyx united in bell shape – fused corolla, urn or bell shape (sympetalous, and urn shaped)
  • perfect
  • 5 parted (~4)
  • 10 stamens (~5)
  • anthers open w/ apical pores
  • ~white, red

Fruit:

  • berry or capsule, drupe

Other notes:

  • shrubs, small trees, or herbs
  • evergreen (~deciduous)
  • ~parasitic (mycrotrophic)
  • acidic soils, bogs

Genera: