Ericaceae subfam. Arbutoideae

Niedenzu

Niedenzu, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 11: 135. 1889.

Synonyms: Undefined tribe Arbuteae Meisner
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 397. Mentioned on page 370, 373, 407.

Shrubs or trees, multicellular hairs present or, sometimes, absent (Comarostaphylis); bark smooth, not furrowed, often flaky, sometimes shredding. Stems erect or prostrate. Leaves persistent (deciduous in Arctous), usually alternate, sometimes opposite or whorled (Ornithostaphylos), rarely opposite (Xylococcus); petiole usually present, sometimes absent (Arctostaphylos); blade plane, abaxial groove absent. Inflorescences terminal, panicles or racemes; perulae absent; bracts much shorter than sepals; bracteoles 2 or absent (Arctostaphylos, Arctous). Flowers pendulous; sepals (4-) 5; petals (4-) 5, connate, corolla deciduous, usually urceolate, sometimes cylindric, conic, or globose, lobes much shorter than tube; intrastaminal nectary disc present; stamens (8-) 10; anthers dehiscent by slits or pores; ovary 2-10-locular; placentation axile; style straight. Fruits drupaceous (baccate in Arbutus), (pulp mealy or juicy), indehiscent; pyrenes 1-5, often connate into stonelike endocarp. Seeds 1-10, usually distinct, sometimes connate, globose (sometimes 3-sided), not winged.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, Central America, Europe, n Africa, n Atlantic Islands (Canary Islands), most species endemic to western North America

Discussion

Genera 6, species 91 or 92 (6 genera, 70 species in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Gordon C. Tucker +
Niedenzu +
not furrowed +
coriaceous +
rotate to crateriform campanulate cylindric globose or urceolate +
globose;conic;globose;conic;cylindric;urceolate +
North America +, Mexico +, Central America +, Europe +, n Africa +, n Atlantic Islands (Canary Islands) +  and most species endemic to western North America +
undifferentiated +
fusiform +
stonelike +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
indehiscent +
multicellular +
opposite +, whorled +  and alternate +
persistent +
revolute;plane;toothed;entire;revolute;plane;toothed;entire +
parietal +, axile +  and placentation +
tenuinucellate +  and unitegmic +
reduced +
not sticky +
4-5-carpellate +
Niedenzu, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. +
tan;yellowish-brown or brown +
connate +  and distinct +
globose +
connate +  and distinct +
prostrate +  and erect +
hairy +  and glabrous +
peltate +  and capitate +
straight +
Undefined tribe Arbuteae +
Ericaceae subfam. Arbutoideae +
Ericaceae +
subfamily +
achlorophyllous +  and chlorophyllous +
evergreen +, deciduous +  and perennial +
tree +  and shrub +
heterotrophic +, autotrophic +  and mycotrophic +