Botany:
Asteranae; understory plants; herbs, shrubs; stamens twice the petals; petals fused or free; ovary superior.
TaxonomyIn the Cronquist system
Ericales was a small Order, which in the plant theory is quite similar. In the Apg classifications
Ericales was extended, including the formerly separate Orders
Polemoniales, Ebenales,
Primulales, Theales,
Ericales and
Sarraceniales.
In the
Plant theory the
Ericales are raised to the level of Subclass, called
Ericidae. Most of the Orders in older systems are Orders in the Subclass of the
Ericidae and placed in the
Phases.
Ericidae is the
Iron series level of the Class of
Asteranae.
Phases1.
Balsaminales:
Balsaminaceae,
Marcgraviaceae,
Tetrameristaceae.
2.
Polemoniales:
Polemoniaceae,
Fouquieriaceae.
3.
Primulales:
Primulaceae,
Myrsinaceae,
Theophrastaceae,
Maesaceae.
4.
Sapotales:
Sapotaceae,
Ebenaceae,
Sladeniaceae,
Theaceae,
Pentaphylacaceae.
5.
Styracales:
Styracaceae,
Symplocaceae,
Diapensiaceae.
6.
Ericales:
Ericaceae,
Clethraceae,
Cyrillaceae.
7.
Sarraceniales:
Sarraceniaceae, Actidiniaceae,
Roridulaceae.