Spiraeoideae
Sorbaria sorbifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Subfamily:	Spiraeoideae
Genera
See text

The subfamily Spiraeoideae is a subfamily of flowering plants in the order Rosales.

Most are shrubs, but there are some herbs (and there are some trees in subtribe Pyrineae and in tribe Amygdaleae). Most have simple leaves, but the genera Aruncus, Sorbaria (and Sorbus in subtribe Pyrineae) have pinnately compound leaves. Carpels are few (1, or usually 2-5). Most genera traditionally placed in the Spiraeoideae produce flowers with distinct follicles that, upon seed-set, mature to form fruits that are aggregates of follicles, but recent molecular data indicates that the traditional subfamily Maloideae with pome fruit, and the traditional subfamily Prunoideae/Amygdaloideae with drupe fruit should be included within the Spiraeoideae, as subtribe Pyrinae and tribe Amygdaleae respectively^[1].

[edit] Taxonomy

The taxonomy of this subfamily has changed several times in the last century as more detailed studies have been carried out. Most recently molecular data have been incorporated^[1].

[edit] Examples

• Goats' Beard, Aruncus dioicus
• False Spirea, Sorbaria sorbifolia
• Japanese Spiraea, Spiraea japonica

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Potter, D., et al. (2007). Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1–2): 5–43.
2. ^ Focke, W.O. 1894. Rosaceae. In Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien nebst ihren Gattungen und wichtigeren Arten insbesondere den Nutzpflanzen unter Mitwirkung zahlreicher hervorragender Fachgelehrten. Edited by A. Engler; K. Prantl. Leipzig. W. Engelmann.

• University of Illinois 2002-05-29

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