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Which familiar plants belong to the heath family Ericaceae?
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Ericales
Flowering rhododendron.
The Ericaceae family, commonly known as the heath family, is a diverse group within the order Ericales that includes many familiar ornamental and edible plants.12
Common plants belonging to the Ericaceae family include:
- Ornamental shrubs: Rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel, and various species of heath (Erica) and heather (Calluna vulgaris).13
- Edible fruits: Blueberries, cranberries, huckleberries, bilberries, and lingonberries.13
- Other notable plants: Manzanita, bearberry, wintergreen, strawberry tree, and Indian pipe.3
Members of this family are typically shrubs or small trees that often thrive in acidic, poorly drained soils. They are widely distributed across the globe, ranging from subarctic regions to tropical mountain chains.13