Flora of North America species comparison

erect, arching, spreading, creeping, or procumbent.

deciduous.

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

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

blade plane, abaxial groove absent.

axillary, racemes, 2-4-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary, ebracteate, from scaly bud on previous year’s wood.

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).

± articulated with calyx tube.

sepals 4-5;

petals 4-5(-6), connate for 3/4 to nearly their entire lengths, corolla urceolate;

stamens usually 8, included;

anthers with awns, tubules ca. 1 mm.

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.

4-5-locular.

ca. 8-15.

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.