Epacridoideae

Epacridoideae is a subfamily of the family Ericaceae. The name Styphelioideae Sweet is also used. The subfamily contains around 35 genera and 545 species. Many species are found in Australasia, others occurring northwards through the Pacific to Southeast Asia, with a small number in South America.

==Description== The Epacridoideae form a well supported monophyletic group within the family Ericaceae, clearly diagnosable using a combination of morphological characters. These include a lignified leaf epidermis, dry, membrane-like (scarious) bracts on the inflorescence, and a persistent corolla. The stamens are also distinctive: there are fewer than twice the number of corolla lobes and their filaments are smooth. Some of these characters are individually present in other members of the family Ericaceae. Core members of the subfamily (i.e. excluding Prionoteae) also have parallel- or somewhat palmate-veined leaves and lack multicellular hairs.