Rosaceae

Rosaceae (rose-like plants) is a large family of plants. There are about 100-120 genera with between 3,000 and 4,000 species that include these well-known plants:

• Roses
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Apples and pears
• Peaches, cherries, and apricots

Plants in Rosaceae usually have flowers with five petals. However, some decorative roses have many more. Species of Dryas usually have eight petals.

The Rosaceae family was traditionally divided into subfamilies, usually these four:

• Rosoideae
• Spiraeoideae
• Maloideae
• Amygdaloideae (sometimes incorrectly called Prunoideae)

However, it has become clear that the last three of the subfamilies cannot be divided in a clear way. Also, there is a small group that is so different from other Rosaceae that it is now given its own name. Botanists now use only three subfamilies:

• Rosoideae
• Amygdaloideae
• Dryadoideae