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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Order: Rosales

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid I

Nine families, seven of which are encountered in southern Africa. There are 261 genera and 7725 species distributed worldwide, of which 43 genera and 414 species are native to southern Africa, 11 genera and 33 species are naturalised, and an additional 47 genera and 275 species that are cultivated in the region.

Families encountered in southern Africa

Cannabaceae (hemp, dagga, hops family)

Eleven genera and 170 species, found in most regions of the world. Two genera and five species are native to southern Africa, Cannabis sativa (hemp, dagga) is naturalised in the region, and two species of Humulus (Hop) are cultivated in the region, including Humulus lupulus (Hop), which is used in beer making.

Elaeagnaceae (oleaster family)

Three genera and about 77 species, mainly native to north temperate regions but also extending into tropical Asia and Australia. Two genera and six species are cultivated in southern Africa.

 

Moraceae (fig, mulberry family)

About 38 genera and 1100 species, distributed worldwide, with eight genera and 51 species native to southern Africa, three species that are naturalised and a further six genera and 42 species that are cultivated in the region.

Rhamnaceae (buckthorn, phylica family)

There are about 58 genera and 900 species worldwide (mainly tropical and subtropical countries), of which nine genera and 161 are native to southern Africa, one species in naturalised, and a further eight genera and 24 species are cultivated in the region.

Rosaceae (rose, peach, strawberry family)

There are about 90 genera and 2520 species worldwide, mostly found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. There are nine genera and 165 species native to southern Africa, an additional nine genera and 23 species naturalised, and an additional 27 genera and 183 species that are cultivated in the region.

Ulmaceae (elm family)

Six genera and 35 species, native mainly to north temperate regions but with a scattered distribution elsewhere. One species is native to southern Africa, a further genus and two species are naturalised, and a further genus and eight species are cultivated in the region.

Urticaceae (nettle family)

Fifty-four genera and 2625 species (worldwide, mainly tropics); 14 genera and 31 species native to southern Africa, three species are naturalised, and an additional two genera and 10 species are cultivated in the region.

 
 

Families not encountered in southern Africa: Barbeyaceae, Dirachmaceae,