EMPETRACEAE

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 13

CXXXIII. EMPETRACEAE 1

Small, evergreen shrubs of ericoid habit. Leaves mostly in somewhat irregular whorls of 3-4 but often alternate on some of the stronger shoots; margins strongly revolute; petiole adnate to stem, at least in part. Flowers small, actinomorphic, often unisexual, (2-) 3-merous, in small terminal heads, or in short axillary racemes which are often reduced to a single flower. Sepals, petals and stamens (2-)3, free. Ovary superior, 6- to 9-locular, with one ovule in each loculus; fruit a small, berry-like drupe with 2-9 pyrenes.

Stems erect; young twigs conspicuously pubescent; flowers in terminal heads; fruit white or pink 1. Corema

Stems procumbent to ascending; young twigs glabrous or minutely glandular-puberulent; flowers in axillary racemes of 1-3; fruit black 2. Empetrum