Agapetes D. Don ex G. Don fil (1834), in the family Ericaceae, contains 95 species, mainly in tropical Asia, just reaching Queensland.

Description Shrubs to 2m, often climbing, the stems often bristly-hairy. The leaves are alternate, evergreen. The flowers are tubular, often with zigzag stripes and markings. Sepals 5, joined at the base, winged or ribbed, often coloured; petals 5, equal, joined to form a tubular corolla with teeth. Stamens 10, the anthers with elongated tubes, opening by pores or slits. Ovary inferior. Carpels 5, fused, with numerous ovules; style long and straight. Pollination is by insects and probably also by birds. The fruits are berries with numerous seeds.

Key Recognition Features The leathery leaves on long, trailing stems and the long flowers in the leaf axils or from the stems.

Evolution and Relationships The genus is close to Vaccinium, and some species have smaller, Vaccinium-like flowers, but all tend to have large, winged sepals and fleshy flowers.

Ecology and Geography On mossy rocks and trees from northeastern India and southwestern China to New Guinea, with a few species in Fiji, New Caledonia, and Queensland.

Comment A few species are cultivated in cool greenhouses in Europe, where they survive outside in very mild areas. Agapetes ‘Ludgvan Cross’ is a hybrid between A. incurvata (Griffith) Sleumer and A. serpens (Wight) Sleumer, raised by Miss G. Talbot at Ludgvan in Cornwall. It is hardier than either parent and will survive a few degrees of frost undamaged. Agapetes may sometimes be found under the old name Pentapterygium.