Gordon C. Tucker, Gary D. Wallace

Subshrubs, multicellular hairs present; bark smooth or furrowed, not flaky. Stems erect to decumbent or prostrate. Leaves persistent, opposite; petiole absent; blade acicular (ericoid), abaxial groove present or not. Inflorescences axillary, solitary flowers; perulae absent; (bracteoles shorter than sepals). Flowers pendulous; sepals (4-)5; petals (4-)5, connate, corolla deciduous, campanulate or cylindric, lobes much shorter than tube; intrastaminal nectary disc absent; stamens (8-)10; anthers dehiscent by terminal, slitlike pores; ovary (4-)5-locular; placentation axile; style straight. Fruits capsular, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 1-10, distinct, ellipsoid to ovoid, not winged.

Genus 1, species 18 (3 in the flora): North America, Europe, Asia; arctic and cold temperate regions, especially alpine areas.

Cassiopeae H. T. Ham