46. Rosaceae.—Rose Family.
Botanical name:
Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with pinnate, palmate, or simple, alternate leaves. Flowers, regular, sepals, usually 5, united petals 5, perigynous; stamens numerous distinct, perigynous; pistils 1 to many. The different tribes are characterized by the fruit—a drupe in Pruneae, follicles in Spiraeae, druples in Rubeae, dry akenes in Potentilleae and Poterieae, bony akenes in Roseae, and pomes in Pomeae. Except in the seeds of the drupe-fruits, which develop the poison hydrocyanic acid, this order is destitute of noxious qualities.
