Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 2, 2026

Dryadoideae

The subfamily Dryadoideae consists of four genera in the family Rosaceae, all of which contain representative species with root nodules that host the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Frankia. They are subshrubs, shrubs, or small trees with a base chromosome number of 9, whose fruits are either an achene or an aggregate of achenes. It includes five genera, all of which except the first only occur in North America.

Last revised
Jul 2, 2026
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Dryadoideae
Dryas × suendermannii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Dryadoideae
(Lam. & DC.) Sweet
Genera

The subfamily Dryadoideae consists of four genera in the family Rosaceae,1 all of which contain representative species with root nodules that host the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Frankia.2 They are subshrubs, shrubs, or small trees with a base chromosome number of 9, whose fruits are either an achene or an aggregate of achenes.1 It includes five genera (Dryas, Cercocarpus, Chamaebatia, Cowania, and Purshia), all of which except the first only occur in North America.

Taxonomic history

The subfamily has at various times been separated as its own family (Dryadaceae), or as a tribe (Dryadeae) or subtribe (Dryadinae).3

References

References

  1. Potter D, Eriksson T, Evans RC, Oh S, Smedmark JEE, Morgan DR, Kerr M, Robertson KR, Arsenault M, Dickinson TA, Campbell CS (2007). "Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266 (1–2): 5–43. doi:10.1007/s00606-007-0539-9..
  2. Swensen SM, Mullin BC (1997). "The impact of molecular systematics on hypotheses for the evolution of root nodule symbioses and implications for expanding symbioses to new host plant genera". Plant and Soil. 194 (1/2): 185–192. doi:10.1023/A:1004240004063. JSTOR 42948119..
  3. J. L. Reveal. "Indices Nominum Supragenericorum Plantarum Vascularium – RA-RZ".
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