Named after the Pierides, mythological Greek Muses.

Evergreen trees, shrubs or occasionally vines. New growth often reddish. Leaves alternate, entire or saw-toothed, stalked. Flowers clusters erect or drooping, axillary or terminal. Flowers white, urn-shaped, 5-lobed; stamens 10 with flat filaments and anthers with terminal holes. Ovary superior. Fruit a capsule with 5 chambers, each containing numerous seeds.

Softwood cuttings, seed.

Leaves minutely toothed; flowers urn-shaped; sepals free (not overlapping).

About 7 species from E Asia to Himalaya and E USA to W Indies.

Ingram (1963), Bond (1982), Judd (1982).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Ericaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.