Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangeaceae
Hydrangea macrophylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Hydrangeaceae
Genera
See text.

Hydrangeaceae are a family of flowering plants in the order Cornales, with a wide distribution in Asia and North America, and locally in southeastern Europe.

Overview

In its broad sense (as treated by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group), the family includes 17 genera, but some botanists divide the family into two, with seven genera split off into a separate family, Philadelphaceae.

The genera are characterised by leaves in opposite pairs (rarely whorled or alternate), and regular, bisexual flowers with 4 (rarely 5-12) petals. The fruit is a capsule or berry containing several seeds, the seeds with a fleshy endosperm.

Genera

Hydrangeaceae Dumort. sensu stricto     Broussaisia Cardiandra Decumaria Deinanthe Dichroa Hydrangea Kirengeshoma Pileostegia Platycrater Schizophragma

Philadelphaceae D.Don Carpenteria Deutzia Fendlera Fendlerella Jamesia Philadelphus Whipplea

In addition, the genus Pottingeria is sometimes included in Hydrangeaceae, while others treat it in either Balanophoraceae, or in its own family Pottingeriaceae.

References

• Hydrangeaceae and Philadelphaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.
• "Hydrangeaceae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=24093. Retrieved 29 June 2003. 

External links

Media related to Hydrangeaceae at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Hydrangeaceae at Wikispecies