Rosoideae

The Rosoideae is a subfamily within the rose family, Rosaceae, which comprises about 2,500 species across more than 90 genera. This family is predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere and includes economically important food crops like apples, almonds, cherries, pears, raspberries, and strawberries, as well as ornamental plants such as roses.1

Members of the Rosoideae subfamily are characterized by their fruits, which are typically achenes (dry fruits that do not open) or, in the case of Rubus (like blackberries and raspberries), drupelets (small, aggregated drupes). Many plants in the Rosaceae family are woody, often shrubs or trees, and some are armed with thorns or prickles. Leaves are typically alternate, with small, leaflike stipules at the base of the leaf stalks. The flowers are usually bisexual, radially symmetric, and feature parts in multiples of five or four, often with a floral cup called a hypanthium.21