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Ericales

(Order)

Overview

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The Ericales are a large and diverse order of dicotyledons, including for example tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, and azalea. The order includes trees and bushes, lianas and herbaceous plants. Together with ordinary autophytic plants, the Ericales include chlorophyll-deficient myco-heterotrophic plants (e. g. Sarcodes sanguinea) and carnivorous plants (e. g. genus Sarracenia).

Many species have five petals, often grown together. Fusion of the petals is a trait that was traditionally used to place the order in the subclass Sympetalae.1]

Mycorrhiza is an interesting property, frequently associated with the Ericales. Indeed, the symbiosis with root fungi is quite common among the order representatives, and there are even three kinds of it which can be found exclusively among Ericales (namely, ericoid, arbutoid and monotropoid mycorrhiza). In addition, some families among the order are notable for their exceptional ability to accumulate aluminum (Jansen et al., 2004).

Ericales are a cosmopolitic order. Areas of distribution of families vary largely - while some are restricted to tropics, others exist mainly in Arctic or temperate regions. The entire order contains over 8000 species, of which the Ericaceae account for 2000-4000 species (by various estimates).

Economic importance

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The most profitable plant in the order is tea (Camellia sinensis) from the Theaceae family. The order also includes some edible fruits, including kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa), persimmon (genus Diospyros), blueberry, huckleberry and cranberry, Brazil nut, and Mamey sapote. The order also includes shea (Vitellaria paradoxa), which is the major dietary lipid source for millions of sub-Saharan Africans. Many Ericales species are cultivated for their showy flowers: well-known examples are azalea, rhododendron, camellia, polyanthus, cyclamen, phlox, and busy Lizzie.

Classification

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The following families are typical of newer classifications. Those marked with an asterisk are recognized in the APG III system.

These make up a basal group of asterids.[2] Under the Cronquist system, the Ericales included a smaller group of plants, which were placed among the Dilleniidae:

See also

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e notable for their exceptional ability to accumulate aluminum (Jansen et al., 2004).

Ericales are a cosmopolitic order. Areas of distribution of families vary largely - while some are restricted to tropics, others exist mainly in Arctic or temperate regions. The entire order contains over 8000 species, of which the Ericaceae account for 2000-4000 species (by various estimates).

Economic importance

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The most profitable plant in the order is tea (Camellia sinensis) from the Theaceae family. The order also includes some edible fruits, including kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa), persimmon (genus Diospyros), blueberry, huckleberry and cranberry, Brazil nut, and Mamey sapote. The order also includes shea (Vitellaria paradoxa), which is the major dietary lipid source for millions of sub-Saharan Africans. Many Ericales species are cultivated for their showy flowers: well-known examples are azalea, rhododendron, camellia, polyanthus, cyclamen, phlox, and busy Lizzie.

Classification

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The following families are typical of newer classifications. Those marked with an asterisk are recognized in the APG III system.

These make up a basal group of asterids.[2] Under the Cronquist system, the Ericales included a smaller group of plants, which were placed among the Dilleniidae:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Robyns, W. (31). "Outline of a New System of Orders and Families of Sympetalae". Bulletin du Jardin Botanique National Belgique 42: 363?372. JSTOR 3667661. 
  2. ^ Bremer, Birgitta; K?re Bremera, Nahid Heidaria, Per Erixona, Richard G. Olmsteadb, Arne A. Ander bergc, Mari K?llersj?d, Edit Barkhordarian (August 2002). "Phylogenetics of asterids based on 3 coding and 3 non-coding chloroplast DNA markers and the utility of non-coding DNA at higher taxonomic levels". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 24 (2): 274?301. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00240-3. PMID 12144762. 

Taxonomy

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The Order Ericales is further organized into finer groupings including:

Families

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Actinidiaceae

Actinidiaceae, or the Chinese Gooseberry family, is a small family of plants. It includes three genera and about 360 species. It is a member of the order Ericales. [more]

Balsaminaceae

Balsaminaceae (commonly known as the balsam family) are a family of dicotyledonous plants, comprising two genera and 850+ species, all but one of which belong to the genus Impatiens. The flowering plants may be annual or perennial and are found throughout temperate and tropical regions, including North America, Asia, Europe and Africa. [more]

Clethraceae

Clethraceae is a small family of flowering plants in the order Ericales, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of Asia and the Americas, with one species also on Madeira. The family comprises two genera, Clethra and Purdiaea. [more]

Cyrillaceae

Cyrillaceae is a small family of flowering plants in the order Ericales, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas. The family comprises two genera, each with a single species, Cyrilla racemiflora and . [more]

Diapensiaceae

Diapensiaceae is a small family of flowering plants, comprising 12 species in five genera. Three of the genera, , Galax, and Pyxidanthera, contain only a single species. The Asian species of Shortia were formerly separated as the genus Schizocodon, and some authors still recognize S. soldanelloides under that name. Another genus, Diplarche, was included in the family by some authors but is now regarded as a member of Ericaceae. [more]

Ebenaceae

The Ebenaceae are a family of flowering plants, which includes ebony and persimmon. The family has approximately 500 species of trees and shrubs in two genera, Diospyros and Euclea. The species are mostly evergreen and native to the tropics and subtropics, with a few deciduous species native to temperate regions. Diospyros contains 450-500 species and a pantropical distribution, with the greatest diversity of species in Indomalaya. Euclea contains 20 species, native to Africa, the Comoro Islands, and Arabia. A persistent calyx on the fruits is characteristic of the family. [more]

Empetraceae

The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge (lime-hating) flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants. There are many well-known and economically important members of the Ericaceae, these include the cranberry, blueberry, huckleberry, azalea, rhododendron, and various common heaths and heathers (Erica, Cassiope, Daboecia, and Calluna for example). [more]

Epacridaceae

The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge (lime-hating) flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants. There are many well-known and economically important members of the Ericaceae, these include the cranberry, blueberry, huckleberry, azalea, rhododendron, and various common heaths and heathers (Erica, Cassiope, Daboecia, and Calluna for example). [more]

Ericaceae

The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge (lime-hating) flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants. There are many well-known and economically important members of the Ericaceae, these include the cranberry, blueberry, huckleberry, azalea, rhododendron, and various common heaths and heathers (Erica, Cassiope, Daboecia, and Calluna for example). [more]

Fouquieriaceae

Fouquieria is a genus of 11 species of desert plants, the sole genus in the family Fouquieriaceae. The genus includes the ocotillo (F. splendens) and the boojum tree or cirio (F. columnaris). They have semi-succulent stems with thinner spikes projecting from them, with leaves on the bases spikes. They are unrelated to cacti and do not look much like them; their stems are proportionately thinner than cactus stems and their leaves are larger. [more]

Lecythidaceae

The Lecythidaceae comprise a family of about 20 genera and 250-300 species of woody plants native to tropical South America and Madagascar. [more]

Marcgraviaceae

Marcgraviaceae is a neotropical angiosperm family in the order Ericales. [more]

Monotropaceae

Monotropaceae was a small family of flowering plants under the old Cronquist system of plant classification. It included 10 genera Allotropa, Cheilotheca, Hemitomes, Monotropa, Monotropastrum, , Pityopus, Pleuricospora, Pterospora, Sarcodes. [more]

Pentaphylacaceae

Shrubs or trees, evergreen. Stipules persistent. Leaves simple, alternate. Flowers axillary, bisexual, actinomorphic, arranged into pseudospikes or pseudoracemes along branchlets below apex. Bracteoles 2, persistent, close to calyx. Sepals 5, persistent, unequal, imbricate. Petals 5, white, imbricate in bud, basally slightly connate. Stamens 5, inflexed in bud, alternate with petals, shorter than petals; anthers small, 2-celled, dehiscing by apical pores. Ovary superior, 5-loculed; ovules 2 per locule, collateral, pendulous from locule apex; style simple, apically 5-lobed. Capsule 5-loculed, loculicidal. Seeds 2 per locule; embryo U-shaped; endosperm very thin.[1] [more]

Polemoniaceae

Polemoniaceae (Jacob's-ladder or phlox family) are a family of about 25 genera with 270-400 species of annual and perennial plants, native to the Northern Hemisphere and South America, with the center of diversity in western North America, especially in California. [more]

Primulaceae

Primulaceae is a family of flowering plants with about 24 genera, including some favorite garden plants and wildflowers. It is also known as the primrose family. [more]

Pyrolaceae

Pyrolaceae was a small family of flowering plants under the old Cronquist system of plant classification. It included the four genera Chimaphila, Moneses, Orthilia, and Pyrola, and sometimes also the eight genera formerly usually placed in the family Monotropaceae. [more]

Roridulaceae

[more]

Sapotaceae

Sapotaceae is a family of flowering plants, belonging to order Ericales. The family includes approximately 800 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in approximately 65 genera (35-75, depending on generic definition). Distribution is pantropical. [more]

Sarraceniaceae

Sarraceniaceae is a family of pitcher plants (along with Nepenthaceae), belonging to order Ericales (previously Nepenthales). [more]

Styracaceae

Styracaceae is a small family of flowering plants in the order Ericales, containing 11 genera and about 160 species of trees and shrubs. The family occurs in warm temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. [more]

Symplocaceae

Symplocaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Ericales, including two genera, Symplocos and >, totalling about 320 species native to Asia, Australia and the Americas. [more]

Tetrameristaceae

[more]

Theaceae

The Theaceae is a family of flowering plants, composed of shrubs and trees. Some botanists include the family Ternstroemiaceae within the Theaceae while others do not. Theaceae can be described as having anywhere from 7-40 genera, depending on the source and the method of circumscription used. [more]

At least 3,055 species and subspecies belong to the Family Theaceae.

More info about the Family Theaceae may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ Robyns, W. (31). "Outline of a New System of Orders and Families of Sympetalae". Bulletin du Jardin Botanique National Belgique 42: 363?372. JSTOR 3667661. 
  2. ^ Bremer, Birgitta; K?re Bremera, Nahid Heidaria, Per Erixona, Richard G. Olmsteadb, Arne A. Anderbergc, Mari K?llersj?d, Edit Barkhordarian (August 2002). "Phylogenetics of asterids based on 3 coding and 3 non-coding chloroplast DNA markers and the utility of non-coding DNA at higher taxonomic levels". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 24 (2): 274?301. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00240-3. PMID 12144762. 

Bibliography

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Footnotes

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  1. Tianlu Min & Bruce Bartholomew "Pentaphylacaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 12 Page 365. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:11:05