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Family:
Ericaceae (erica and rhododendron family) Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids > Order: Ericales
About 126 genera and 3995 species, occurring worldwide but
rare in lowland tropical regions. Two genera and 753 species are native to
southern Africa, and an additional nine genera and 24 species are cultivated in
the region. All except one of the native species are in the genus
Erica, which is particularly diverse in
fynbos.
Genera native to southern Africa
List from Oliver (2000)
Erica
About 860 species, native to Africa, Madagascar and Europe,
with 752 species native to southern Africa and a further two species that are
cultivated in the region. The greatest diversity is in the
Western Cape and Eastern Cape. |
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Vaccinium (Cranberry, Blueberry
genus)
About 450 species, found worldwide with greatest diversity in South America
and SE Asia. One species, Vaccinium exul, is native to southern
Africa, occurring on the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga. At
least three species are cultivated in southern Africa, including Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon and Blueberry (mainly Vaccinium corymbosum,
Vaccinium australe and hybrids), which originate from North America. |
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Other genera, cultivated in southern Africa
List from Glen (2002). The species is listed for genera
with only one species represented in southern Africa.
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry tree)
Native from Ireland through to
western Asia. Berries are used in jams,
jellies and fruit wines, as well as in drinks and liqueurs. |
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Arctostaphylos
Two species cultivated: Arctostaphylos bicolor (native to California)
and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (native to northern cicumpolar regions).
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Daboecia cantabrica (St. Dabeoc's heath)
Native from Ireland
through to Portugal.
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Enkianthus perulatus
Native to Japan and Taiwan. |
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Kalmia latifolia (Mountain laurel)
Native to eastern USA.
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Leucothoe fontanesiana
Native to southeastern USA.
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Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood, Tree sorrel)
Native to eastern
USA. |
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Pieris
Two species cultivated: Pieris formosa (Bolú) (native from India to
Vietnam) and Pieris japonica (Asebi, Lily-of-the-valley bush) (native
to China, Taiwan and Japan). |
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Rhododendron (rhododendrons, azaleas)
Over 1000 species, native to the Northern Hemisphere, extending south to
southeastern Asia and Australasia. Nine species are cultivated in southern
Africa.
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Publications
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Oliver, E.G.H. 2000. Ericaceae. In: Seed Plants of
Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 246-248..
National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of
Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.
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