Heath family
Description
A family of shrubs and small trees, cosmopolitan in distribution but centred in the northern hemisphere and almost absent from Australia (Ericaceae 1).
The leaves are leathery, simple and alternate. Flowers in variable inflorescences, with 4 or 5 free sepals, 4 or 5 tube-like fused petals, and 8-10 free stamens. The ovary may be superior or inferior. The fruit is a capsule, drupe or berry.
There are about 100 genera.
Use
Besides ornamental shrubs, the family yields a number of edible berries like blueberries and cranberries that are economically important, especially in the United States.
Described species
Vaccinium myrtillus, bilberry, whortle berry, blue berry
Vaccinium vitis-idaea, cowberry, foxberry, see Vaccinium myrtillus
Vaccinium corymbosum, highbush blueberry, see Vaccinium myrtillus
Vaccinium angustifolium, lowbush blueberry, see Vaccinium myrtillus
Vaccinium oxycoccus, cranberry, see Vaccinium myrtillus
Vaccinium macrocarpon, large or American granberry, see Vaccinium myrtillus