Summitaceae

Summitaceae is a historical plant family name that has appeared in various 19th- and 20th-century classifications for a group of predominantly woody, ericaceous plants within the order Ericales. The circumscription of Summitaceae varied by author, but it most often encompassed genera associated with ericaceous shrubs bearing berry-like fruits. In many older systems, the group corresponded to what later classifications placed within Ericaceae, particularly the clade commonly referred to as Vaccinioideae, and in some treatments to the separate family Vacciniaceae.

Description and composition: Plants historically placed in Summitaceae are typically evergreen or semievergreen shrubs or small trees with simple leaves. They often have small, bell- or urn-shaped flowers and fleshy fruits such as berries or drupes. The morphology aligns with features characteristic of the broader Ericaceae.

Taxonomic status: In contemporary plant taxonomy, Summitaceae is not recognized as a distinct family. Molecular phylogenetic evidence shows that the genera formerly included in Summitaceae belong within Ericaceae, usually within the Vaccinioideae subfamily. As a result, the term is largely obsolete in APG-based systems, though it may appear in some regional or historical treatments.

Distribution and ecology: The taxa historically associated with Summitaceae are largely temperate to boreal shrubs native to the Northern Hemisphere, with many species adapted to cool, montane, or acidic habitats. They are often found in woodland and heathland communities.

See also: Ericaceae; Vaccinioideae; Vacciniaceae.