Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangeaceae
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangea macrophylla
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cornales
Family: Hydrangeaceae

Genera
See text.

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

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

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

References