Ericaceae

(now includes all genera from Epacridaceae)

Shrubs rarely small trees. Leaves alternate, whorled or spirally arranged, often crowded, rigid, often ericoid, entire or slightly denticulate, usually with parallel veins; stipules absent. Flowers bisexual; regular; axillary or terminal, solitary, or several together or in spikes, racemes or panicles. Sepals 4–5, much imbricate in the bud, often with several sepaloid bracts below the flower. Corolla tubular, urceolate or campanulate,4–5-lobed. Stamens hypogynous or epipetalous, up to twice as many as the corolla lobes; anthers opening apically by pores or longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 1–5-locular; style simple; stigma undivided. Fruit a loculicidal dehiscent capsule or drupaceous. 157 gen., trop. to temp., cosmop. 36 gen. in Aust.