Rosaceae

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Rosaceae A large and heterogeneous family of dicotyledonous (see DICOTYLEDON) trees, shrubs, and herbs that have alternate, stipulate leaves, and regular flowers, usually with inferior or partly inferior ovaries, or with the sometimes free carpels in a receptacular (see RECEPTACLE) cup. There are usually 4 or 5 free sepals and petals, and numerous stamens. Fruits are very varied. They may be achenes, drupes, follicles, or pomes (as in Malus). Many are cultivated for their edible fruits (e.g. Pyrus, Malus, Prunus, Rubus, and Fragaria), or for their flowers. In modern classifications, some 107 genera, with 3100 species are recognized, mostly in temperate zones, but cosmopolitan overall.

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