Epigaea
Epigaea repens
trailing arbutus
ground-laurel, mayflower, trailing-arbutus
creeping or prostrate;
twigs coarsely hirsute (especially new growth).
to 30(–50) cm.
often hirsute-hispid, especially when young.
persistent, alternate;
petiole present;
blade coriaceous, margins entire.
alternate (distal leaves sometimes closely spaced, appearing subopposite or opposite);
petiole 1–5 cm, with unicellular hairs of varying lengths;
blade ovate-elliptic, (2–)3–8(–10) × 1.5–5.5 cm, base rounded or cordate, margins ciliate with stiff hairs, plane, apex obtuse to acute and mucronate, abaxial surface with distinctive reticulate venation, adaxial and abaxial surfaces with long, soft or stiff hairs, becoming glabrate.
axillary or terminal, spikes or dense racemes, 2–6(–10)-flowered;
perulae absent.
axillary and terminal clusters, 2–5 cm;
bracteoles persistent, 2, 4–7 mm (often extending to calyx lobes), hirsute.
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.
bisexual or unisexual due to undeveloped or sterile stamens or ovary (staminate flowers larger than carpellate), with spicy fragrance;
sepals distinct nearly to base, 5–6 mm, hirsute;
corolla tube 6–10(–15) mm, lobes 5, spreading, rose or pink to white, 6–10 mm;
filaments adnate to base of corolla tube, hairy basally;
ovary glandular-hairy;
style slender, with collar or ring of tissue partly adnate to stigma.
capsular, depressed-globose, dehiscence septicidal.
depressed-globose, 5-lobed, 5–8 mm diam., fleshy, outer surface glandular-hirsute, white and pulpy within due to persistent, fleshy placentae.
ca. 100, ovoid to globose, not winged, not tailed;
testa foveolate.
brown, 0.5 mm.
= 12.
= 24.
Epigaea
Epigaea repens
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).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Although common in much of its range, Epigaea repens is rare in Florida, occurring only in the western part of the state. Although documented from Illinois, it has not been seen there since the late 1800s. It is a well known member of the early spring flora, usually beginning to flower well before deciduous trees leaf out. Commonly known as mayflower, it was designated the state flower of Massachusetts in 1918 and received legal protection there in 1925. The flowers are sweetly fragrant.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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