Flora of North America species comparison

erect, (0.3–)1–4 m, branches spreading.

erect, arching, spreading, creeping, or procumbent.

petiole 1–3 mm;

blade 3–8 cm, surfaces pilose on major veins abaxially.

deciduous or persistent, alternate, sometimes pseudoverticillate (Pieris);

petiole usually present, sometimes absent (some species of Vaccinium);

blade plane, abaxial groove absent.

(deciduous around anthesis), erect or ascending, secund, straight, 3–5 cm;

bracts ± deciduous, lanceolate, 4–5 mm.

usually axillary, sometimes terminal, usually panicles or racemes, sometimes corymbs or fascicles, sometimes solitary flowers, (borne on leafy twigs, except Zenobia on leafless twigs);

perulae absent;

bracts much shorter than sepals (sometimes absent).

calyx campanulate, sepals lanceolate, 2–3 mm, apex acute;

corolla white, 7–9 mm, lobes recurved, glabrous;

stamens 2–4 mm;

anthers 4-awned, ca. 1.5 mm, thecae divergent distally;

ovary glabrous.

pendulous;

perianth and androecium hypogynous or epigynous (Gaylussacia, Vaccinium);

sepals (4-)5[-8];

petals 4-5(-6), connate (rarely distinct or nearly so in some species of Vaccinium), corolla deciduous, campanulate, cylindric, or urceolate, lobes usually much shorter (sometimes longer) than tube;

intrastaminal nectary disc absent or present;

stamens 8-10[-16];

anthers dehiscent by terminal pores or short slits;

ovary 5- or 10-locular;

placentation axile;

style straight.

capsular, dehiscence loculicidal, or baccate or drupaceous, indehiscent.

2–3 mm wide.

not winged, wedge- to crescent-shaped, not flat, 1–1.2 mm.

2-300, distinct, ovoid or obovoid to ellipsoid, lanceoloid, or conic, to angular or wedge- or crescent-shaped, usually not winged, sometimes slightly winged or tailed.

= 22.