Ericaceae

Ericaceae
Erica arborea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae Juss.
Genera
See text.

Ericaceae, the heath family or the heather family is a plant family, comprising mostly calcifuge (lime-hating) plants that thrive in acidic soils. Many well-known plants of the Ericaceae live in temperate climates, such as cranberry, blueberry, various heaths and heathers (Erica, Cassiope, Daboecia, Calluna vulgaris etc), huckleberry, azalea and rhododendron. However, the family also contains many tropical species.^[1]

The Ericaceae consists of herbs, dwarf shrubs, shrubs and trees with leaves that are usually alternate or whorled, simple and without stipules, and hermaphrodite flowers. The flowers show considerable variability. The petals are often fused (sympetalous) with shapes ranging from narrowly tubular to funnelform or widely bowl-shaped. The corollas are usually radially symmetrical (actinomorphic) but many flowers of the genus Rhododendron are somewhat bilaterally symmetrical (zygomorphic).

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 mycorrhizae, where fungi grow in and around the roots and provide the plant with nutrients. This symbiotic relationship is considered crucial to the success of members of the family in edaphically stressful environments worldwide.^[2]

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), showing radially symmetrical flower.

Rhododendron x campylocarpum flower showing bilateral symmetry.

Genera

Vaccinium (Ericaceae) berries, from top right: cranberries, red huckleberries, blueberries, lingonberries

Leptecophylla juniperina

Chimaphila menziesii

References

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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ericaceae

• 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.)
• Ericaceae Homepage, including a large number of photographs, cladograms, and descriptions.
• Empetraceae of Mongolia in FloraGREIF