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Synonyms: Andromedaceae DC. ex Schnizl.; Arbutaceae Bromhead; Arctostaphylaceae J. Agardh; Azaleaceae Vest; Diplarchaceae Klotzsch; Hypopityaceae Link; Kalmiaceae Durande; Ledaceae J. F. Gmel.; Menziesiaceae Klotzsch; Monotropaceae Nutt., nom. cons.; Pyrolaceae Lindl., nom. cons.; Rhododendraceae Juss.; Rhodoraceae Vent.; Siphonandraceae Klotzsch, nom. inval.; Vacciniaceae DC. ex Perleb, nom. cons.
Common name: Ericaceae Family including Pyroleaceae & Monotropaceae.
Number of genera 111. Number of species 3417.
Angiosperm. Magnoliopsida.
Disseminule a dehisced fruit, or an intact or entire fruit, or a seed.
Fruits
Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit pericarpium and anthocarp; simple, or schizocarp; berry (Cavendishia), or carcerulus (Vaccinium), or capsule, or drupe (Arctostaphylos); coccarium (Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude); ceratium capsule (Lyonia ferruginea (Walter) Nutt.), or fissuricidal capsule (Chimaphila), or loculicidal capsule, or septifragal capsule (Rhodondendron, Monotropa), or septicidal capsule; capsule not inflated; capsule without operculum; berry indehiscent; berry without central placental mass; simple; acrosarcum (Gaultheria Spujt Fig. 7C), or diclesium (Psammisia); with persistent central column, or without persistent central column; with styles(s); at apex; within accessory organ(s), or not within accessory organ(s); within calyx (succulent for Acrosarcum), or hypanthium; accrescent; with hypanthium dry; many-seeded (at least); 2–10-carpellate (-20; & mostly 4–5); with carpels united; with carpels remaining united at maturity; without sterile carpels; not sulcate; in transection terete; dehiscent, or indehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s). Dehiscent regularly; passively; linearly; by ventral sutures, or dorsal sutures, or dorsal sutures and ventral sutures; at apex; and shedding seeds; without replum. Epicarp dark blue, or gray, or black, or red; shiny, or dull; durable; without armature; smooth, or not smooth; warted; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp absent, or present; fleshy, or hard; composed of 1 unified layer; without lactiform cavity system. Endocarp present, or absent (Arbutoideae); not separating from exocarp; thin, or hard; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without mechanism for seedling escape; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds
Aril absent. Seed embedded in pulpy endocarp tissue; larger than minute, or minute; less than 1 mm long; 0.6 mm long; ovate, or elliptic, or fusiform, or irregular, or curved, or straight; in transection compressed; not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak, or with winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s), or with caudate appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present, or absent; without embryo surrounded and capped by viscid tissue; without markedly different marginal tissue; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; tight, or loose; dull, or shiny; surface unsmooth; surface with merged raised features; surface reticulate, or striate; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrous; without wings, or with wing(s); 2-winged; with wing encompassing seed, or wings at both ends; with wings equally developed; with wing(s) solid, or laciniate; with solid wing(s) similar to testa; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; brown (all shades) (at least); thin; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding food reserve. Hilum punctate. Endosperm development nuclear, or cellular; copious to scant; fleshy-firm, or fleshy; smooth; with oils and proteins; without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve, or undifferentiated from food reserve; well developed; partially filling testa (with food reserve), or nearly filling testa (trace or scanty food reserve); chamber central to wings; 0.1–0.8 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axile and centric, or basal; linear, or foliate; with spatulate cotyledons; straight, or C-shaped; parallel to seed length; with cotyledons gradually connected to hypocotyl-radicle, or abruptly connected to hypocotyl-radicle; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green; acotyledonous, or with 1 cotyledon (undivided), or with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; scarcely differentiated to moderately developed; not divaricate; 0.1–0.5 times length of embryo; as wide as hypocotyl-radicle, or somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle; 1–2.5 times wider than hypocotyl-radicle; not concealing hypocotyl-radicle; not foliaceous, or foliaceous; thin; flat; smooth; with apices entire; with margins separate; basally entire; equal in size; not punctate dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle undeveloped to well developed; straight; not thickened.
Distribution
Pantemperate and pansubtropical (and mountains in tropics). New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Notes
Rhododendroideae: Septifrgal & septicidal capsules; Ericoideae: Usually loculicidal capsules; Vaccinioideae: Berry, drupe. or loculicidal capsule; Arbutoideae: Drupe or seldon a nut. Goldberg recognized Ericaceae, Pyrolaceae, & Monotropaceae.
Weed information
No USA noxious weeds.
Listed seeds
ASOA listed seeds, ISTA listed seeds.
ASOA listed seeds: -- Arbutus menziesii Pursh -- Arctostaphylos patula Greene -- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. -- Rhododendron L. spp. -- Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton -- Vaccinium ovatum Pursh -- Vaccinium L. spp. -- Last updated September 2008.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Arbutus menziesii Pursh -- Erica arborea L.w -- Erica australis L. -- Erica carnea L. -- Erica ciliaris L. -- Erica cinerea L. -- Erica × darleyensis Bean -- Erica erigena R. Ross -- Erica gracilis J. C. Wendl. -- Erica herbacea L. = Erica carnea L. -- Erica lusitanica Rudolphiw -- Erica mackayana Bab. -- Erica maweana Backh. f. = Erica ciliaris L. -- Erica mediterranea auct., non L. = Erica erigena R. Ross -- Erica × praegeri Ostenf. = Erica × stuartii E. F. Linton -- Erica scoparia L. -- Erica × stuartii (Macfarl.) Mast. -- Erica terminalis Salisb. -- Erica tetralix L. -- Erica vagans L. -- Erica × veitchii Bean -- Erica × watsonii Benth. -- Erica × williamsii Druce -- Pieris japonica (Thunb.) D. Don ex G. Don -- Vaccinium corymbosum L. -- Vaccinium myrtillus L. -- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Acrostemon Klotzsch -- Agapetes D. Don ex G. Don -- Agarista D. Don ex G. Don -- Allotropa Torr. & A. Gray -- Andromeda L. -- Anomalanthus Klotzsch -- Anthopteropsis A. C. Sm. -- Anthopterus Hook. -- Arachnocalyx Compton -- Arbutus L. -- Arctostaphylos Adans., nom. cons. -- Bejaria Mutis, nom. cons. -- Bruckenthalia Rchb. -- Bryanthus J. G. Gmel. -- Calluna Salisb. -- Calopteryx A. C. Sm. -- Cassiope D. Don -- Cavendishia Lindl., nom. cons. -- Ceratostema Juss. -- Chamaedaphne Moench, nom. cons. -- Cheilotheca Hook. f. -- Chimaphila Pursh -- Coccosperma Klotzsch -- Coilostigma Klotzsch -- Comarostaphylis Zucc. -- Costera J. J. Sm. -- Craibiodendron W. W. Sm. -- Daboecia D. Don, nom. cons. -- Demosthenesia A. C. Sm. -- Didonica Luteyn & Wilbur -- Dimorphanthera (F. Muell. ex Drude) F. Muell. ex J. J. Sm. -- Diogenesia Sleumer -- Diplarche Hook. f. & Thomson -- Diplycosia Blume -- Disterigma (Klotzsch) Nied. -- Elliottia Muhl. ex Elliott -- Enkianthus Lour. -- Epigaea L. -- Eremia D. Don -- Eremiella Compton -- Erica L., nom. cons. prop. -- Gaultheria L. -- Gaylussacia Kunth, nom. cons. -- Gonocalyx Planch. & Linden -- Grisebachia Klotzsch -- Harrimanella Coville -- Hemitomes A. Gray -- Kalmia L. -- Kalmiopsis Rehder -- Lateropora A. C. Sm. -- Ledothamnus Meisn. -- Ledum L. -- Leiophyllum R. Hedw. -- Leucothoe D. Don -- Loiseleuria Desv., nom. cons. -- Lyonia Nutt., nom. cons. -- Macleania Hook. -- Malea Lundell -- Menziesia Sm. -- Mitrastylus Alm & T. C. E. Fr. -- Moneses Salisb. ex Gray -- Monotropa L. -- Monotropastrum Andres -- Monotropsis Schwein. ex Elliott -- Mycerinus A. C. Sm. -- Nagelocarpus Bullock -- Notopora Hook. f. -- Oreanthes Benth. -- Ornithostaphylos Small -- Orthaea Klotzsch -- Orthilia Raf. -- Oxydendrum DC. -- Pellegrinia Sleumer -- Pernettya Gaudich., nom. cons. -- Pernettyopsis King & Gamble -- Phyllodoce Salisb. -- Pieris D. Don -- Pityopus Small -- Platycalyx N. E. Br. -- Pleuricospora A. Gray -- Plutarchia A. C. Sm. -- Polyclita A. C. Sm. -- Psammisia Klotzsch -- Pterospora Nutt. -- Pyrola L. -- Rhododendron L. -- Rhodothamnus Rchb., nom. cons. -- Rusbya Britton -- Salaxis Salisb. -- Sarcodes Torr. -- Satyria Klotzsch -- Scyphogyne Decne. -- Semiramisia Klotzsch -- Simocheilus Klotzsch -- Siphonandra Klotzsch -- Sphyrospermum Poepp. & Endl. -- Stokoeanthus E. G. H. Oliv. -- Sympieza Licht. ex Roem. & Schult. -- Syndesmanthus Klotzsch -- Tepuia Camp -- Thamnus Klotzsch -- Themistoclesia Klotzsch -- Therorhodion (Maxim.) Small -- Thibaudia Ruiz & Pav. ex J. St.-Hil. -- Thoracosperma Klotzsch -- Tsusiophyllum Maxim. -- Utleya Wilbur & Luteyn -- Vaccinium L., nom. cons. prop. -- Xylococcus Nutt. -- Zenobia D. Don
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 479 (including 483: Pyrolaceae & 485: Monotropaceae & Mabberley & Goldberg). Stevens, P.F. 1971. A classification of the Ericaceae: Subfamilies and tribes. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 64:1–53; Olson, A.R. 1980. Seed morphology of Monotropa uniflora L. (Ericaceae). Amer. J. Bot. 67:968–974.
General references
Corner, E.J.H. 1976. The seeds of Dicots, esp. vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York, Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Engler, A. and K. Prantl. 1924 and onward. Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilimien. W. Engelman, Leipzig, Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, LeMaout, E. and J. Decaisne. 1876. A general system of botany, 1,065 p. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, Schopmeyer, C.S. 1974. Seeds of Woody plants in the United States. Agric. Handb. 450:1–883, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182, Wood, C.E., Jr. 1974. A student's atlas of flowering plants: Some dicotyledons of eastern North America, 120 pp. Harper and Row, New York.
Illustrations
Poor fruit and seed illustrations. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or seed, or embryo. Fruit illustration(s): Cronquist, Schopmeyer, Wood, Jr., Engler & Prantl, LeMaout & Decaisne. Seed illustration(s): Schopmeyer, Wood, Jr., Engler & Prantl, Olson (1980), LeMaout & Decasine, Karen. Embryo illustration(s): Schopmeyer, Engler & Prantl, LeMaout & Decaisne, Karen, Martin. Karen's plate number and taxon (taxa): 146: Allotropa virgata Torr. & Gray (A-C), Hypopitys lanuginosa Rafin. (D-F), Monotropa uniflora Torr. & Gray (G-I), Monotropastrum (Monotropanthum) ampullaceum (Andres) Andres (J-L), Monotropastrum globosum [not in INPI] (M-O), Pleuricospora fimbriolata A. Gray (P-R), Sarcodes sanguinea Torr. (S-U) check last two in GRIN].
• Fruit. 1 of 19. Arbutus canariensis Duhamel: fruit. • Seed. 2 of 19. Arbutus canariensis Duhamel: seed. • Seed. 3 of 19. Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull: seeds. • Fruit. 4 of 19. Erica multiflora L.: fruits. • Seed. 5 of 19. Erica multiflora L.: seeds. • Fruit. 6 of 19. Kalmia latifolia L.: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 7 of 19. Kalmia latifolia L.: seeds. • Seed. 8 of 19. Monotropa uniflora L.: seeds. • Fruit. 9 of 19. Orthilia secunda (L.) House: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 10 of 19. Orthilia secunda (L.) House: seeds. • Fruit. 11 of 19. Rhododendron brachycarpum D. Don ex G. Don: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 12 of 19. Rhododendron brachycarpum D. Don ex G. Don: seeds. • Embryo. 15 of 19. Monotropa uniflora L.: embryo. • Embryo. 19 of 19. Sarcodes sanguinea Torr.: embryo.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
