Epigaea

Epigaea is a small genus of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. The species are small creeping shrubs that are typically anywhere from tall at full growth, forming large patches. The leaves are evergreen, alternate and simple, ranging amongst the three species from long. The flowers are small, white or pink, with a five-lobed tubular corolla which is produced in mid-spring. The fruit is a dry capsule with numerous small seeds.

==Extant species== There are three species: {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Flower !! Name !! Description!! Distribution |- |120px || Epigaea asiatica (Iwanashi) ||Leaves with an acutely pointed apex || Japan |- |120px || Epigaea gaultherioides ||Leaves elliptical, leathery, base cordate, apex acuminate, petiole pubescent.|| Georgia and northeastern Turkey |- |120px|| Epigaea repens (Mayflower or trailing arbutus) || Leaves with a rounded or bluntly pointed apex.|| Eastern North America |- |}