Rosaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Rosaceae Jussieu

Synonym(s): Agrimoniaceae Gray; Alchemillaceae Martinov; Amygdalaceae Marquis, nom. cons.; Cercocarpaceae J. Agardh; Coleogynaceae J. Agardh; Dryadaceae Gray; Fragariaceae Nestl.; Lindleyaceae J. Agardh; Malaceae Small, nom. cons.; Neilliaceae Miq.; Potentillaceae Bercht. & J. Presl; Prunaceae Martinov; Rhodotypaceae J. Agardh; Sanguisorbaceae Bercht. & J. Presl; Spiraeaceae Bertuch; Ulmariaceae Gray

Common name(s): rose family

*Number of genera/species: 111/2,950

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

fruit, incomplete fruit with epicarp and mesocarp absent and endocarp exposed (pyrene), or seed

Description

Fruit usually indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
, achenesachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
or drupesdrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
, often aggregated, pomespome:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit in which the outer part is soft and the center contains papery or cartilaginous structures enclosing the seeds
, or dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
follicles, often aggregated, or rarely capsulescapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
, 1–150 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to angledangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles
, usually tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
, sometimes compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
(Potentilla, Rhodotypos) or laterally flattened (Holodiscus) in transectiontransection:
a cross section; representing a plane made by cutting across an organ at a right angle to its length
, stylesstyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
often persistent, forming short or long beaks (long, terminal, hairy stylesstyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
in Dryas and Geum). Fruit sometimes winged (Amygdaloideae), if winged, wings at both ends or only a apexapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ
or may appear caudatecaudate:
tapering to a long, tail-like appendage
at both ends. Fruit 1-seeded (achene, drupeletdrupelet:
one drupe of a fruit with multiple drupes, as in blackberries
), usually few to less than 20-seeded (sometimes many-seeded in pomespome:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit in which the outer part is soft and the center contains papery or cartilaginous structures enclosing the seeds
), often enclosed by hypanthium and crowned by persistent calyxcalyx:
the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
, or subtended by persistent calyxcalyx:
the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
. Hypanthium, if present, fused to fruit wall, fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, and cupular or narrow-mouthed. Rarely fruit attached to enlarged, fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
or not fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
torus. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
black, blue or purplish black, purple, brown, green, red, orange, yellow, or rarely white (Osteomeles), shinyshiny:
uniformly reflecting a high proportion of incident light at all angles
or dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, thickthick:
having or being of relatively great depth
or thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
walled, bonybony:
very hard and rather brittle, like bone
, cartilaginouscartilaginous:
texture—firm, dense, tough, somewhat pliable, and resilient, like cartilage
, leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, fibrousfibrous:
texture—long, flexible threads, thicker than hairs, that densely cover and obscure the surface
, woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
, or fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, sometimes gritty, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
or pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
, if pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
often densely so with short, white hairs, rarely with long-stalked glands (Neillia spp.). Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
(or hypanthium) smooth or ridgedridged:
surface relief—raised, thick ridges, sharp edged or rounded, usually in a series that may cover the entire surface
, ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
, wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
, punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
, or with bristles, spines, or protuberances. In pomespome:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit in which the outer part is soft and the center contains papery or cartilaginous structures enclosing the seeds
, the fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
layer is derived from hypanthial and/or carpellary tissue and may have sclereids (gritty) or not and have large pigment cells or not. A pome’s endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
may be firm-membranous, cartilaginouscartilaginous:
texture—firm, dense, tough, somewhat pliable, and resilient, like cartilage
, leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, bonybony:
very hard and rather brittle, like bone
or slightly woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
.

Fruit type by subfamily

Amygdaloideae: acheneachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
, nutletnutlet:
˜achene
, or folliclefollicle:
a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa
, often aggregated, or pomepome:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit in which the outer part is soft and the center contains papery or cartilaginous structures enclosing the seeds
, drupedrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
, or capsule

Dryadoideae: acheneachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
or head of achenesachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
(with long persistent, terminal, hairy stylesstyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
, Dryas)

Rosoideae: acheneachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
, 1 or 2 or numerous (Rosa) enclosed in hypanthium (with bristles Agrimonia, with spines Acaena, red and fleshy Aremonia, Sarcopoterium). Or folliclelike acheneachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
(Filipendula, indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
), head of achenesachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
(with long persistent, terminal, hairy stylesstyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
, Geum), or aggregated nutletsnutlet:
˜achene
(Leucosidea) or drupeletsdrupelet:
one drupe of a fruit with multiple drupes, as in blackberries
(Rubus)

Seed globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to pyriform, rarely reniformreniform:
2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped
(Potentilla), sometimes with fold between cotyledons and hypocotyl-radicle or notched, 1.5–5 mm long. Rapheraphe:
a ridge or seam on the seed coat, formed by the portion of the funiculus united to the ovule wall in longitudinally curved ovules
sometimes conspicuous. Arilaril:
(broad sense) appendicular structure that wholly or partly envelops a seed and is produced from or a modification of the funicle, raphe, or outer integument; usually fleshy or pulpy, sometimes spongy or tufted-capillate, often brightly colored
or arillike structure usually absent, except for carunclecaruncle:
a localized outgrowth of the seed coat near the hilum of the seed; it functions as an elaiosome
on Physocarpus seeds. Seed coat black or brown, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
, usually thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
, firmfirm:
texture—yielding under only moderately strong pressure; only slightly deformable without internal structural disruption
, membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
, or leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, smooth or ridgedridged:
surface relief—raised, thick ridges, sharp edged or rounded, usually in a series that may cover the entire surface
, striatestriate:
surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges
, pittedpitted:
surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net
, papillatepapillate:
surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex
, punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
, or wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
. Margins with markedly different tissue than rest of seed coat.

Embryo well developed, completely to nearly completely filling seed coat, axileaxile:
on or of the axis
and centric, foliatefoliate:
appearing leaf-like
or linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
, straight, bentbent:
(of embryo) embryo is bent at an acute, V-shaped angle with the ends close together and generally thick cotyledons
, or curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
. Cotyledons thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
, flat or once-folded, rarely convolute, with entire apicesapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ
.

Endosperm endosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
usually thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
, sometimes absent, rarely copious (Kerria, Neillia, Physocarpus), if present fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
and smooth. Perispermperisperm:
seed nutritive tissue comparable to the endosperm, but derived from the nucellus (maternal tissue)
present.

Habitat and crop association

Noxious Weeds: USA Federal Noxious Weed List, terrestrial, Rubus fruticosus Linnaeus agg. (complex), Rubus moluccanus Linnaeus.

More about these species on the Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the US ID tool.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	achene, folliclefollicle: a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa , drupedrupe: (indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds , pomepome: an indehiscent, fleshy fruit in which the outer part is soft and the center contains papery or cartilaginous structures enclosing the seeds , rarely capsule
Size range	1–150 mm long
Shape(s)	globose, cymbiformcymbiform: 3D shape - boat-shaped, navicular , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , conicalconical: 3D shape—cone-shaped, with the point of attachment at the broad end , pyriform, boat-shaped, lanceoloidlanceoloid: 3D shape—lanceolate , falcatefalcate: shaped like a scythe or sickle , reniformreniform: 2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped , 4-angled
Texture	thick thick: having or being of relatively great depth or thinthin: having or being of relatively little depth walled, bonybony: very hard and rather brittle, like bone , cartilaginouscartilaginous: texture—firm, dense, tough, somewhat pliable, and resilient, like cartilage , leatheryleathery: texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable , fibrousfibrous: texture—long, flexible threads, thicker than hairs, that densely cover and obscure the surface , woodywoody: texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood , fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut , sometimes gritty
Surface relief	smooth, ridgedridged: surface relief—raised, thick ridges, sharp edged or rounded, usually in a series that may cover the entire surface , ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface , wrinkledwrinkled: surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out , punctatepunctate: surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted , with bristles, spines, or  protuberances
Color(s)	black, blue or purplish black, purple, brown, green, red, orange, yellow, rarely white
Unique features	Five types of fruits. 1) Small achenesachene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point aggregated or not, with persistent stylesstyle: in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit , which are often hooked and/or hairy. Infrequently achenesachene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point attached to fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut central tissue. 2) Aggregateaggregate: fruit formed from a single flower with carpels several and distinct of drupesdrupe: (indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds . 3) AchenesAchene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point surrounded by green tissue. 4) Flesh fruit with stone surrounding seeds. 5) Fruit with grainy fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut pulp surrounding seeds.
Seed
Size range	1.5–5 mm long
Shape(s)	globose, ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , lanceoloidlanceoloid: 3D shape—lanceolate , pyriform,  rarely reniform
Surface relief	smooth, ridgedridged: surface relief—raised, thick ridges, sharp edged or rounded, usually in a series that may cover the entire surface , striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges , pittedpitted: surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net papillatepapillate: surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex , punctatepunctate: surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted , wrinkled
Color(s)	black, brown
Other
Embryo	well developed, completely to nearly completely filling seed coat, axileaxile: on or of the axis and centric, foliatefoliate: appearing leaf-like or linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , straight, bentbent: (of embryo) embryo is bent at an acute, V-shaped angle with the ends close together and generally thick cotyledons , or curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart . Cotyledons thinthin: having or being of relatively little depth , flat or once-folded, rarely convolute, with entire apicesapex: the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ .
Nutritive tissuenutritive tissue: tissue within the seeds that nourishes the developing embryo; such as endosperm, perisperm, or chalazosperm in angiosperms; megagametophyte in gymnosperms	endosperm endosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds usually thinthin: having or being of relatively little depth , sometimes absent, rarely copious (Kerria, Neillia, Physocarpus), if present fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut and smooth. Perispermperisperm: seed nutritive tissue comparable to the endosperm, but derived from the nucellus (maternal tissue) present.

Distribution

Nearly worldwide, diverse in subtropics and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Hyde et al. 2021c+; Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+; Kirkbride et al. 2006; Kubitzki et al. 1990+; Liu et al. 2019; Nooteboom et al. 2021+; Noxious Weed Regulations 2020; Phipps 1992; Takhtajan 2009; Tutin et al. 1968; USDA 1980

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.