Deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, petiolate, entire or serrulate. Flowers bracteate, white, in axillary fascicles, panicles, racemes or sometimes solitary. Calyx 4-5-lobed, valvate, persistent. Corolla 4-5-lobed, globular or urceolate, pubescent. Stamens 8-10; anthers without or with 2 weak appendages. Ovary 4-5-locular; stigma truncate. Capsule 4-5-locular, sutures with corky or spongy thickenings. Seeds numerous, testa loose.

A genus of about 30 species, distributed largely in Mexico, N.E. America, West Indies and the Himalayas. There is only one- species on record from West Pakistan.

Lower Taxon

• Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude

Related Synonym(s):

• Andromeda ovalifolia Wall. Cat. = Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude
• Pieris ovalifolia D. Don, = Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude