Epigaea

Illustrator: Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Subshrubs. Stems creeping or prostrate; twigs coarsely hirsute (especially new growth). Leaves persistent, alternate; petiole present; blade coriaceous, margins entire. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, spikes or dense racemes, 2–6(–10)-flowered; perulae absent. Flowers bisexual or unisexual (functionally dioecious), radially symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, (imbricate); petals 5, connate for ca. 1/2 their lengths, corolla ± deciduous, ± salverform; stamens 10, included; anthers without awns, dehiscent by longitudinal slits; ovary 5-locular; style included; stigma 5-lobed. Fruits capsular, depressed-globose, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds ca. 100, ovoid to globose, not winged, not tailed; testa foveolate. x = 12.

Distribution

North America, e, sw Asia.

Discussion

Orphanidesia Boissier & Balansa

Species 3 (1 in the flora).

Epigaea comprises E. repens in eastern North America, E. asiatica Maximowicz in eastern Asia, and E. gaultherioides (Boissier & Balansa) Takhtajan in southwestern Asia (Caucasus region).

The species of Epigaea are infrequently cultivated; they are difficult to establish and maintain (M. A. Dirr 1998).

Selected References

Clay, K. and N. C. Ellstrand. 1981. Stylar polymorphism in Epigaea repens, a dioecious species. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 108: 305–310.

Clay, K. 1983. Myrmecochory in the trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens L.). Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 110: 166–169.

Lhotska, M. and Z. Seibert. 1988. Epigaea L. Skalnicky 19(4): 121–126.

Lower Taxa

Epigaea repens