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.[3]
Description
The genera are characterised by
leaves in opposite pairs (rarely whorled or alternate), and regular, bisexual
flowers with four (rarely 5–12) petals. The
fruit is a
capsule or
berry containing several
seeds, the seeds with a fleshy
endosperm.[4]
The family Hydrangeaceae has two subfamilies, namely Jamesioideae and Hydrangeoideae. The subfamily Jamesioideae comprises the genera Jamesia and Fendlera.[6][7] They are the sister group to the remaining Hydrangeaceae.[7][8] The subfamily Hydrangeoideae has two tribes:[9][7][8] Hydrangeae consists of Hydrangea s.l.,[9] and Philadelpheae consists of Philadelphus, Carpenteria, Deutzia, Kirengeshoma, Whipplea, and Fendlerella.[7][8]Carpenteria is the sister group to Philadelphus. Deutzia is the sister group to Kirengeshoma, and Fendlerella is the sister group to Whipplea.[8][6][7] However the relationships among those three clades within the tribe Philadelphae are a bit unclear.[8] The following cladogram summarizes results from different studies, and for each node it is noted which studies support the sister group positions of the following branches: