thumb|[[Hydrangea hydrangeoides, a member of the now-synonymised genus Schizophragma]]

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.

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.

Genera

The following genera are accepted:

  • Carpenteria <small>Torr.</small>
  • Deutzia <small>Thunb.</small>
  • Fendlera <small>Engelm. & A.Gray</small>
  • Fendlerella <small>A.Heller</small>
  • Hydrangea <small>Gronov. ex L.</small>
  • Jamesia <small>Torr. & A.Gray</small>
  • Kirengeshoma <small>Yatabe</small>
  • Philadelphus <small>L.</small>
  • Whipplea <small>Torr.</small>

Phylogeny

The family Hydrangeaceae has two subfamilies, namely Jamesioideae and Hydrangeoideae. The subfamily Jamesioideae comprises the genera Jamesia and Fendlera. The subfamily Hydrangeoideae has two tribes: and Philadelpheae consists of Philadelphus, Carpenteria, Deutzia, Kirengeshoma, Whipplea, and Fendlerella.