Traditionally this tribe was broadly circumscribed, including genera here placed in Lyonieae, Gaultherieae, and Oxydendreae (Stevens, 1971). As traditionally delimited the group clearly is paraphyletic (Fig. 7; see also discussion in Stevens, 1995; Kron et al., 1999b). In this
classification Andromedeae is restricted to only Andromeda and Zenobia and may be characterized by a lack of multicellular hairs on the leaves (disregarding the reduced non-glandular hairs associated with the marginal teeth of Zenobia; see discussion in Kron et al., 1999b). The leaves of Andromeda are entire, and thus lack these tooth-associated
hairs (or any other multicellular hairs). Despite the lack of distinctive morphological synapomorphies, the monophyly of this small clade is strongly supported in the molecular (Figs. 4,5,6) and combined analyses (Fig. 7).

Andromedeae Klotzsch, Pfl. Abbild. Beschr.: 1838. – Type genus: ndromeda L.Andromedinae D. Don, New Philos. J. Edinburgh 17: 157. 1834 (as Andromedeae).

Shrubs, evergreen, with, non-ericoid, entire or serrulate leaves, convolute or revolute in bud. Secondary phloem with bands of fibers in Zenobia, these lacking in Andromeda; leaf epidermal cells ± lignified in Andromeda, but unlignified in Zenobia. Indumentum of multicellular hairs lacking except for ± globose, eglandular hairs associated with serrations of Zenobia. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, ± fasciculate; bracts present, bracteoles paired, basal; calyx
articulated with pedicel. Flowers 5-merous, actinomorphic. Calyx lobes small, persistent; corolla sympetalous, urceolate or campanulate, the lobes small; stamens 10, the filaments ± straight, unicellular- pubescent or roughened, with 2 or 4 awns arising from the dorso-apical portion of the anther; anthers slightly to clearly roughened, with a white deposit of disintegration tissue dorsally in Zenobia, but this lacking in Andromeda, dehiscing by terminal pores. Ovary 5-locular,
with axile placentation, superior; style impressed; stigma ± truncate. Fruit a loculicidal capsule; seeds with elongate or ± isodiametric testa cells; embryo with 2 cotyledons.