Flora of North America species comparison

erect, arching, spreading, creeping, or procumbent.

petiole 1–2(–4) mm;

blade pale green abaxially, green to yellowish green adaxially, ovate to oblong, (2–)2.5–5 × 1–2.5 cm, membranous to subcoriaceous, base cuneate, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse, surfaces glabrous, sometimes puberulent on major veins, sessile-glandular.

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

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

blade plane, abaxial groove absent.

drooping, 3–7-flowered, bracteate, 0.5–1.5 cm, glabrous;

bracts early-deciduous, not leaflike (linear-lanceolate), 2–4 mm, shorter than pedicels, glabrous, sessile-glandular.

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).

3–6 mm, glabrous, sessile-glandular;

bracteoles 1(–2), 1–2 mm.

sepals 5, 0.7–1 mm, glabrous, sessile-glandular;

petals 4–5, corolla orange to red, campanulate-conic, 4–5 mm, lobes 0.5–0.7 mm;

filaments 2 mm, glabrous;

anthers included, 2.2–2.5 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.

juicy, sweet, glossy black (sometimes blue, rarely white), 6–7 mm diam., glabrous.

ca. 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.

= 24.