Betulaceae
Betulaceae
Betulaceae (pronounced /bɛtjuːˈleɪsiiː/), commonly known as the birch family, is a family of angiosperms that includes six genera of deciduous nut-bearing trees and shrubs, including the birches, alders, hazels, hornbeams, hazel-hornbeam, and hop-hornbeams numbering about 130 species. They are often found in the Northern Hemisphere, but also with some species occurring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Etymology
The name Betulaceae comes from the genus Betula, which is derived from the old Latin word for birch. The family name was first used by the French botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1820.
Genera
The Betulaceae family includes the following genera:
- Alnus – alders
- Betula – birches
- Carpinus – hornbeams
- Corylus – hazels
- Ostrya – hop-hornbeams
- Ostryopsis – hazel-hornbeam
Characteristics
Members of the Betulaceae family are characterized by simple, alternate leaves, monoecious flowers, and fruits which are small nuts or seeds enclosed in a woody or leathery shell. The flowers are often produced in catkins.
Related Terms
- Angiosperms: Seed-producing plants that produce flowers. The seeds are usually contained in an ovary.
- Deciduous: Trees or shrubs that shed their leaves annually.
- Monoecious: Having both the male and female reproductive organs in the same individual.
- Catkins: A slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Betulaceae
- Wikipedia's article - Betulaceae
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