Family: Rosaceae
Common name: rose family [Zomlefer, pp. 181-185]
Diversity: Worldwide: 100 genera; ~3,000 species
U.S.: 50 genera
PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 33 genera
Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites


Flower
K Co5 S P 1, x,
Sexuality: bisexual (rarely dioecious)
Symmetry: actinomorphic
Inflorescence: solitary, raceme, or cyme
Calyx (sepals): 5, basally connate
Corolla (petals): 5, separate, short clawed, arising from rim of hypanthium
Androecium: numerous stamens, whorled, usu. in several series
Gynoecium: unicarpelate with a superior ovary in a hypanthium (=perigynous), many separate carpels with superior ovaries in a hypanthium (=perigynous), or two to five united carpels in a superior or inferior ovary (=perigynous or epigynous)
Fruit: achene, aggregate, drupe, pome, or follicle
Other features: hypanthium = cup-shaped fushion of androecium and perianth, with nectar producing disc
often an epicalyx of five sepal-like organs in a whorl alternating with calyx


Vegetative Features
some species have thorns or prickles
Leaves: alternate, simple or compound, usu. stipulate
Life-history: most perennial, a few annual
Habit: herbs, shrubs, trees
Distribution & Ecology: cosmopolitan, mostly temperate regions of N. hemisphere
Some Northwest Genera: Amelanchier, serviceberry
Crataegus, hawthorn
Fragaria, strawberry
Oemleria, indian plum
Potentilla, cinquefoil
Prunus, cherry
Rosa, rose
Rubus, blackberry, salmonberry
Sorbus, mountain ash
Spiraea, spiraea


Economic Importance
Crops: Pyrus, pear
Malus, apple (>2,000 named varieties)
Prunus, plum, apricot, peach, almond, cherry
Fragaria, strawberry
Ornamentals: Rosa, rose (>5,000 named cultivars)
Prunus, cherry
Weedy and pest species: Rubus, blackberry


Examples Rosaceae Amelanchier
Rosaceae Fragaria
Rosaceae Prunus
Rosaceae Rosa
Rosaceae Rubus
click on the genus name for a flower image



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