# Ericoid

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Term for plants resembling or related to heather

*[Erica glomiflora](/source/Erica_glomiflora)*

*[Struthiola myrsinites](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Struthiola_myrsinites&action=edit&redlink=1)* in flower. Note ericoid habit.

The word "**ericoid**" is used in modern biological terminology for its literal meanings and for extensions. **Ericoid** could have more than one meaning, but in practice the most common use is in reference to a plant's habit, to describe small, tough ([sclerophyllous](/source/Sclerophyll)) leaves like those of heather.[1] Etymologically the word is derived from two [Greek](/source/Greek_language) roots via Latin adaptations.[2] First, the [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) name for plants now known in English as "heather" was "***ἐρείκη***", believed to be Latinised by [Pliny](/source/Pliny_the_Elder) as "Erica".[3] [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), who predominantly wrote in Latin, used *[Erica](/source/Erica_(plant))* as the name of the genus which still is known as such.

Alternative meanings are a member of the subfamily [Ericoideae](/source/Ericoideae) (noun) or pertaining to that subfamily (adjective).

However, when Linnaeus named an organism, using a specific epithet that described it as being like some particular thing, he commonly did so by appending the suffix "***—οειδης***". That was a contraction of "***—ο + ειδος***", denoting a likeness of form. In its Latinised form it became: "*—oides*".[4] An example is the entry 9413 *Stilbe ericoides* according to Wappler's *Index Plantarum* to Linnaeus' "*Species Plantarum*".[5] Further derivations emerged at need or convenience, such as "*—oidea*".

Accordingly, **ericoid** could have more than one meaning and it has been misapplied from time to time in the literature. For example, sometimes a writer uses it where the correct word would be "ericaceous", meaning a member of, or related to, the family [Ericaceae](/source/Ericaceae). More precisely ericoid means "resembling an Erica" in some relevant way.[6] Applied to a plant, ericoid generally means that apart from its sclerophyllous leaves, it has short internodes so that the leaves more or less cover the usually slender [branchlet](/source/Branch).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Collocott, T. C. (ed.) (1974). *Chambers Dictionary of science and technology*. Edinburgh: W. and R. Chambers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0550132023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0550132023). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |author= has generic name ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-isbn0-19-861271-0_2-0)** Brown, Lesley (1993). [*The New shorter Oxford English dictionary on historical principles*](https://archive.org/details/newshorteroxford00lesl). Oxford [Eng.]: Clarendon. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-861271-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-861271-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Gledhill, David (2008). *The Names of Plants*. Cambridge University Press. p. 156. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-86645-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-86645-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-isbn0-398-06179-3_4-0)** Jaeger, Edmund Carroll (1959). [*A source-book of biological names and terms*](https://archive.org/details/sourcebookofbiol0000jaeg). Springfield, Ill: Thomas. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-398-06179-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-398-06179-3). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Linnaeus, Index Plantarum quae continentur in Linnaeani Systematis. Printed Christian Friedrich Wappler, Vienna 1785

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BotGloss_6-0)** Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon;*A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Derivation and Accent*; Published by Gerald Duckworth & Co. London, 4th ed 1928

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ericoid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ericoid) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ericoid?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.