ERICACEAE
Morphological description
Usually woody. Sometimes saprophytes (Andresia, Monotropastrum).
Leaves
Leaves spiral (incl. pseudoverticillate), exstipulate; usually leaves glandular below, venation pinnate, sometimes with 3 or more secondary veins from base. Sometimes leaves lepidote (most Rhododendron); sometimes glands on leaf margin at base (some Costera, Vaccinium, rarely Dimorphanthera)
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flowers hermaphroditic, corolla tubular or urceolate, anthers opening by apical pores, style 1. Usually actinomorphic; ovary 5-locular; stamens 10, anthers with appendages
Seed
Seed numerous.
Different from: Epacridaceae: venation parallel.
Distribution: The family world-wide. In Malesia 12 genera incl.: - Diplycosia (Malesia), montane forest, often epiphytic; - Gaultheria (Asia, Australia, America), montane forest, terrestrial; - Rhododendron (mainly northern hemisphere), mostly montane forest, terrestrial or epiphytic; - Vaccinium (widespread), primary and secondary forest, mainly montane, often epiphytic.
Notes: Flowers of Rhododendron pollinated by birds and insects. — Several species planted as ornamentals (Rhododendron). — Fruits and leaves of some Vaccinium edible. Fruits of Dimorphanthera and Vaccinium eaten by birds. — Gaultheria produces medicinal oil.
Literature: H. Sleumer, Fl. Males. I, 6 (1966) 469-914.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Ericaceae 56, 64, 86 - Agapetes 2, 31, 92 - Andresia 7 - Cheilo-theca 79 - Costera 92 - Dimorphanthera 31, 92 - Diplycosia 31, 64, 93 - Gaultheria 31, 64, 85 - Monotropastrum 7 - Rhododendron 25, 26, 46, 60 - Vaccinium 2, 31, 85, 92, 93.
Illustrations: Fig. 59 & 60. Fig. 59. Rhododendron konori Becc.: a. habit; b. flower; c. pistil; d. stamen. Fig. 60. Vaccinium bancanum Miq.: a. habit; b. flower; c. stamens; d. pistil; e. fruit.
Image in PhytoImages for Ericaceae