Arbutoideae

The Arbutoideae are a subfamily in the flowering plant family Ericaceae. Phylogenetic analysis supported all genera of the subfamily as monophyletic, except "Arbutus". Moreover, it was suggested that the non-sister relationship between Mediterranean and North American species may be explained by a once widespread distribution in the Northern hemisphere before the Neogene.
The genera "Arbutus", "Arctostaphylos", "Comarostaphylis" form a particular type of mycorrhizal symbiosis with the fungus "Arbutoid mycorrhiza", which resembles ectomycorrhizas.