Epigaea

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 395. 1753.

,

Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 186. 1754 ,.

Common names: Trailing arbutus
Etymology: Greek epi-, upon, and gaia, earth, alluding to creeping habit
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 475. Mentioned on page 370, 374, 449.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA8 P55 Rhododendron viscosum.jpegRhododendron viscosum
Elliottia
Elliottia pyroliflora
Epigaea
Epigaea repens
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Barbara Alongi
Barbara Alongi
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Subshrubs. Stems creeping or prostrate; twigs coarsely hirsute (especially new growth). Leaves persistent, alternate; petiole present; blade coriaceous, margins entire. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, spikes or dense racemes, 2–6 (–10) -flowered; perulae absent. Flowers bisexual or unisexual (functionally dioecious), radially symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, (imbricate); petals 5, connate for ca. 1/2 their lengths, corolla ± deciduous, ± salverform; stamens 10, included; anthers without awns, dehiscent by longitudinal slits; ovary 5-locular; style included; stigma 5-lobed. Fruits capsular, depressed-globose, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds ca. 100, ovoid to globose, not winged, not tailed; testa foveolate. x = 12.

Distribution

North America, e, sw Asia

Discussion

Orphanidesia Boissier & Balansa

Species 3 (1 in the flora).

Epigaea comprises E. repens in eastern North America, E. asiatica Maximowicz in eastern Asia, and E. gaultherioides (Boissier & Balansa) Takhtajan in southwestern Asia (Caucasus region).

The species of Epigaea are infrequently cultivated; they are difficult to establish and maintain (M. A. Dirr 1998).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Epigaea"
Walter S. Judd +  and Kathleen A. Kron +
Linnaeus +
furrowed +  and smooth +
not flaky +
acicular;plane +
coriaceous +
Trailing arbutus +
rotate to crateriform campanulate cylindric globose or urceolate +
salverform +
North America +, e +  and sw Asia +
undifferentiated +
fusiform +
Greek epi-, upon, and gaia, earth, alluding to creeping habit +
pendulous +  and erect +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
depressed-globose +
multicellular +
terminal +  and axillary +
persistent +
revolute;plane;toothed;entire;revolute;plane;toothed;entire +
parietal +, axile +  and placentation +
tenuinucellate +  and unitegmic +
reduced +
not sticky +
4-5-carpellate +
Sp. Pl. +  and Gen. Pl. ed. +
2-6(-10)-flowered +
tan;yellowish-brown or brown +
distinct +
not tailed +, ovoid +  and globose +
distinct +
2-6(-10)-flowered +
procumbent +  and prostrate +
prostrate +  and creeping +
trailing +  and erect to decumbent +
hairy +  and glabrous +
peltate +  and capitate +
straight +
Undefined tribe Empetraceae +
Epigaea +
Ericaceae subfam. Ericoideae +
foveolate +
achlorophyllous +  and chlorophyllous +
evergreen +, deciduous +  and perennial +
heterotrophic +, autotrophic +  and mycotrophic +