Show Lower Taxa
Cassiope
Edinburgh New Philos. J. 17: 157. 1834 ,.
Common names: Mountain heather
Etymology: Greek mythological Cassiope, wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda
Stems decumbent to prostrate, spreading, ascending, or erect, mat-forming, glabrous or hairy. Leaves: blade canoe-shaped, without abaxial groove, or dorsiventrally expanded by marginal outgrowths forming abaxial groove, margins entire, thin or scarious, surfaces glabrous or glandular or hairy. Pedicels erect with deflexed tip at anthesis, elongating (or not) and straight in fruit; bracteoles absent. Flowers: sepals ± distinct, oblong-ovate; filaments not enlarged at base; anthers with awns; ovary subglobose to ovoid; style cylindric; stigma capitate. Capsules borne on erect pedicels, subglobose to ovoid. x = 13.
Distribution
North America, n Europe, Asia.
Discussion
Species 18 (3 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Leaf blades grooved on abaxial surface. | Cassiope tetragona |
| 1 | Leaf blades not grooved on abaxial surface | > 2 |
| 2 | Leaf blade margins not scarious, without curled hairs at leaf tips. | Cassiope mertensiana |
| 2 | Leaf blade margins conspicuously scarious, with curled hairs at leaf tips (at least on young leaves). | Cassiope lycopodioides |