Difference between revisions of "Ericaceae"

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{{Taxobox
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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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| name = ''Ericaceae''
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| name = Ericaceae
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| common_names =     <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
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| color = IndianRed
 
| image = Erica arborea.JPG
 
| image = Erica arborea.JPG
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| image_width = 250px
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| image_width = 240px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
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| image_caption = ''[[Tree heath|Erica arborea]]''
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| image_caption = Tree heath (Erica arborea)
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| regnum = [[Plantae]]
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| regnum = Plantae
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| classis = Magnoliopsida
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| ordo = [[Ericales]]
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| ordo = Ericales
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| familia = '''Ericaceae'''
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| familia = Ericaceae
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| familia_authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]]
 
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| subdivision_ranks = Genera
 
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| subdivision = See text.
 
 
}}
 
}}
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{{Inc|
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Ericaceae (from the genus Erica, the ancient name of the heath, from erico, to break). Heath Family. Fig. 46. Shrubs or sub-shrubs: leaves alternate, often evergreen: flowers bisexual, regular or slightly irregular; calyx 4-5-fid, persistent; corolla gamopetalous, rarely polypetalous, often urceolate, 4-5-lobed, convolute or imbricated; stamens alternate with the petals, of the same number or double the number, inserted at the base of a hypogynous disk, not epipetalous; anthers sometimes appendaged, opening by terminal pores, rarely by longitudinal slits; ovary superior or inferior, 4-5-celled or falsely 10-celled, many ovuled; style and stigma 1: fruit a capsule, rarely a berry or drupe.
  
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The [[plant]] [[family (biology)|family]] '''Ericaceae''' (also called the ''heath family'' or ''ericaceous plants'') are mostly [[calcium oxide|lime]]-hating or [[calcifuge]] plants that thrive in [[acid]] [[soil]]s. The family Ericaceae includes numerous plants from mostly temperate climates: [[cranberry]], [[blueberry]], [[Erica|heath]], [[Calluna vulgaris|heather]], [[huckleberry]], [[azalea]] and [[rhododendron]] are well-known examples.
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The 67 genera and about 1,400 species are very generally distributed. Erica, the largest genus, with 420 species, is confined to the Old World. The family is closely related to the Pyrolaceae and Clethraceae; also to the Epacridaceae and Diapensiaceae. The northern Ericaceae are largely evergreen and variously adapted in foliage to a xerophytic habitat. Ledum is polypetalous. Rhododendron has a funnel-form corolla; Kalmia, a cup-shaped corolla with elastic stamens in pockets. The anthers of Epigaea dehisce longitudinally.
  
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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 [[Edaphic|edaphically]] stressful environments worldwide (Cairney and Meharg, 2003).
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Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi (bearberry) of Europe and America is medicinal. The volatile oil of wintergreen is obtained from the leaves, and stems, of the North American Gaultheria procumbens. A very poisonous substance is found in some species of Rhododendron, Lyonia and Leucothoe; and possibly the poisonous quality of Kalmia and Rhododendron honey is due to this. Species of Gaylussacia (North America) yield huckleberries; species of Vaccinium yield blueberries. The fruits of V. Myrtillus (Europe) are bilberries. The European heaths furnish commercial honey. Cranberries are the fruit of V. macrocarpon and V. Oxycoccus. Many species of Ericaceae are ornamental.
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[[Image:Erica junonia00.jpg|thumb|left|<center>'''''Erica junonia'' [[Harry Bolus|Bolus]]'''</center>]]
 
  
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{{-}}
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Forty to 50 genera are in cultivation in N. America. Among these are the Strawberry Tree or Madrona (Arbutus); Bearberry (Arctostaphylos); Heather (Caluna); Heath (Erica); Trailing Arbutus or Mayflower (Epigaea); Labrador Tea (Ledum); Sourwood or Sorrel Tree (Oxydendrum); Azalea, Rhodora, Rhododendron or Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron); Laurel (Kalmia); Blueberry and Cranberry (Vaccinium); Huckleberry (Gaylussacia); also Menziesia, Chamaedaphne, Cassiope, Andromeda, and others.{{SCH}}
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== Genera ==
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}}
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==Genera==
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[[Image:Erica junonia00.jpg|thumb|'''''Erica junonia'' [[Harry Bolus|Bolus]]''']]
 
{|
 
{|
 
|- valign=top
 
|- valign=top
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*''[[Prionotes]]''
 
*''[[Prionotes]]''
 
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|
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*''[[Psammisia]]''<!-- BIOTROPICA 34(1): 68–80 -->
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*''[[Psammisia]]''
 
*''[[Pinedrops|Pterospora]]''
 
*''[[Pinedrops|Pterospora]]''
 
*''[[Pyrola]]''
 
*''[[Pyrola]]''
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*''[[Zenobia (plant)|Zenobia]]''
 
*''[[Zenobia (plant)|Zenobia]]''
 
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|}
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{{SCH}}
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==Gallery==
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
  
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==External links==
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<gallery>
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{{commonscat|Ericaceae}}
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/ericacea.htm Ericaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.]
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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* [http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2 Neotropical blueberries reference at New York Botanical Garden (very detailed, keys to genera and species, etc.)]
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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*Cairney, JWG & Meharg, AA (2003). Ericoid mycorrhiza: a partnership that exploits harsh edaphic conditions. ''European Journal of Soil Science'' '''54''', 735-740.
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
  
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Categorize]]
 
[[Category:Plant families]]
 
[[Category:Plant families]]
 
[[Category:Ericales]]
 
[[Category:Ericales]]
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[[Category:Ericaceae|*]]
 

Latest revision as of 05:00, 14 May 2009


Tree heath (Erica arborea)


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Ericaceae >



Read about Ericaceae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Ericaceae (from the genus Erica, the ancient name of the heath, from erico, to break). Heath Family. Fig. 46. Shrubs or sub-shrubs: leaves alternate, often evergreen: flowers bisexual, regular or slightly irregular; calyx 4-5-fid, persistent; corolla gamopetalous, rarely polypetalous, often urceolate, 4-5-lobed, convolute or imbricated; stamens alternate with the petals, of the same number or double the number, inserted at the base of a hypogynous disk, not epipetalous; anthers sometimes appendaged, opening by terminal pores, rarely by longitudinal slits; ovary superior or inferior, 4-5-celled or falsely 10-celled, many ovuled; style and stigma 1: fruit a capsule, rarely a berry or drupe.

The 67 genera and about 1,400 species are very generally distributed. Erica, the largest genus, with 420 species, is confined to the Old World. The family is closely related to the Pyrolaceae and Clethraceae; also to the Epacridaceae and Diapensiaceae. The northern Ericaceae are largely evergreen and variously adapted in foliage to a xerophytic habitat. Ledum is polypetalous. Rhododendron has a funnel-form corolla; Kalmia, a cup-shaped corolla with elastic stamens in pockets. The anthers of Epigaea dehisce longitudinally.

Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi (bearberry) of Europe and America is medicinal. The volatile oil of wintergreen is obtained from the leaves, and stems, of the North American Gaultheria procumbens. A very poisonous substance is found in some species of Rhododendron, Lyonia and Leucothoe; and possibly the poisonous quality of Kalmia and Rhododendron honey is due to this. Species of Gaylussacia (North America) yield huckleberries; species of Vaccinium yield blueberries. The fruits of V. Myrtillus (Europe) are bilberries. The European heaths furnish commercial honey. Cranberries are the fruit of V. macrocarpon and V. Oxycoccus. Many species of Ericaceae are ornamental.

Forty to 50 genera are in cultivation in N. America. Among these are the Strawberry Tree or Madrona (Arbutus); Bearberry (Arctostaphylos); Heather (Caluna); Heath (Erica); Trailing Arbutus or Mayflower (Epigaea); Labrador Tea (Ledum); Sourwood or Sorrel Tree (Oxydendrum); Azalea, Rhodora, Rhododendron or Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron); Laurel (Kalmia); Blueberry and Cranberry (Vaccinium); Huckleberry (Gaylussacia); also Menziesia, Chamaedaphne, Cassiope, Andromeda, and others.CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Genera

Erica junonia Bolus

CH

Gallery

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  • photo 1

  • photo 2

  • photo 3

References

External links

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