The phylum angiosperm (Greek meaning: covered seeds) contains the plants that we are most familiar with and includes all flowering plants which develop their seeds within a protective structure. Of all the species within the plant kingdom, about 380,000, the phylum angiosperm is the largest and most diverse phylum 64 orders, 416 families, about 13,000 genera and 300,000 known species.
The primary distinguishing feature of Angiosperms from other seed producing plants known as the Gymnosperm is that the Angiosperm plants all have flowers.
Description:
The Ericaceae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the heath or heather family and are found primarily in acidic and/or infertile growing conditions.
There are many well known species in this family which are economically important including the cranberry, blueberry, huckleberry, azaleas, rhododendron, and various common heaths and heathers.
There is a diverse range of plants including herbs, dwarf shrubs, shrubs and trees, with their leaves being normally evergreen.
The distribution of this family is nearly worldwide due to their being absent from Antarctica, the extreme northern Arctic area and a few other areas.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom:
Plantae
Phylum:
Angiosperm
Class:
Eudicotyledon
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Ericaceae
This is a large family with 124 genera with 4,250 species, which has been
classified into nine sub-families.
Sub-family:
Arbutoideae (This sub-family has 6 genera)
Genus:
Arbutus with 12 species
Genus:
Arctostaphylos with 62 specues
Genus:
Arctous with 3 species
Genus:
Comarostaphylis with 10 speices
Genus:
Ornithostaphylos with a single species, O. oppositifola
Genus:
Xylococcus with a single species, X. bicolor
Sub-family:
Cassipoideae
Genus:
Cassiope is the only genus with 18 species
Sub-family:
Enkianthoideae
Genus:
Enkianthus is the only genus with 15 species
Sub-family:
Ericoideae has 19 genera 1790 species
Genus:
Bejaria has 15 species
Tropical and subtropical America
Genus:
Bryanthus has 1 species: B. musciformis
Japan, Kamchatka and Kuril islands
Genus:
Calluna has 1 species, C. vulgaris:
Europe and Asia Minor
Genus:
Ceratiola has 1 species: C. ericoides
Southeastern United States
Genus:
Corema has 2 species: C. album, C. conradii
Portugal
Genus:
Daboecia has 2 species: D. azorica, D. cantabrica
Eastern Atlantic Europe
Genus:
Elliottia has 4 species:
E. bracteata, E. paniculata, E. Pyroliflora, E. racemosa
Japan and North America
Genus:
Empetrum has 3 species: E. eamesii, E. nigrum, E. rubrum
widespread
Genus:
Epigaea has 3 species: E. asiatica, E. gaultherioides, E. repens
Japan, Turkey, Eastern North America
Genus:
Erica has about 857 species
South Africa, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Europe
Genus:
Kalmia has about 9 species of laurel
North America, Cuba
Genus:
Kalmiopsis has 2 species: K. leachiana, K. fragrans
Oregon, US
Genus:
Ledothamnus has 7 species
South America
Genus:
Phyllodoce has 5 to 8 species of heath
North America and Eurasia
Genus:
Rhododendron has 1024 species
Asia, North America, Europe, Austraila
Genus:
Rhodothamnum has 2 species. R. chamaecistus, R. leachianus
Alps and Asia Minor
Sub-family:
Epacridoideae, 35 genera with 545 species)
Genus:
Archeria with 6 species
Sub-family:
Harrimanelloideae
This sub-family has 1 genus with 1 species
Genus:
Harrimanella has a single species, H. hypnoides
Sub-family:
Monotropoideae has 16 genera with numerous species
Genus:
Monotropa with about 3 non-photosynthetic species
Sub-family:
Pyrolodeae
Genus:
Chimaphila with five species
Genus:
Moneses with a single species, M.uniflora
Genus:
Orthilia with a singel species, O. secunda
Genus:
Pyrols with abour 30 species
Sub-family:
Vaccinioideae, has 50 genera with 1580 species
Genus:
Vaccinium with about 450 species
blueberry, bilberry, cranberry, lingonberry, and huckleberry.
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