whitebeams and allies (Sorbus), Loquat (Eriobotrya), mespils (Amelanchier), cotoneasters (Cotoneaster), hawthorns (Crataegus) and cherries and their allies (Prunus).
| FABACEAE (PEA FAMILY)A very large family of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that bear their seeds in pods. Their roots have colonies of nitrogen-fixing bacteria living on them in tiny nodules. All of the tree species have tough, durable wood and many of them are thorny. Most have compound leaves and very attractive flowers. |
| SIMAROUBACEAE (QUASSIA FAMILY)A mainly tropical and subtropical family of about 20 genera and 150 species of trees and shrubs. Leaves are alternate and usually pinnate, and the flowers are small and 5-petalled. The fruit is either winged or a capsule. |
| ANACARDIACEAE (CASHEW FAMILY)A large family of more than 800 species of trees, shrubs and climbers found mainly in warm climates. They may be deciduous or evergreen, but most have alternate leaves that can be simple or pinnate, and many, such as Poison Ivy, have an irritant resin in the leaves that can damage human skin. The flowers are small and the sexes are often on different plants. |
| ACERACEAE (MAPLE FAMILY)A family of about 100 species of trees and shrubs, some evergreen, some deciduous, mostly occurring in northern temperate regions. Leaves are opposite and nearly always lobed, and sometimes divided into leaflets. Flowers are small, and the seeds are winged, in 2 halves. Many have beautiful autumn colours and are popular garden trees, and some are important timber-producing trees. |
| HIPPOCASTANACEAE (HORSE-CHESTNUT FAMILY)A family of 2 genera and 15 species of deciduous trees and shrubs occurring in North America, SE Europe and E Asia. The compound leaves are strongly palmate, and the showy flowers are 4-or 5-petalled, growing in large upright clusters at the ends of the shoots, usually in summer. The fruits are large shiny nuts in a variably prickly husk. The timber is not particularly strong for such a large tree, and is best used for carving and turnery. |
| QUIFOLIACEAE (HOLLY FAMILY)A large family of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs from temperate and tropical regions, most of which are hollies. Leaves are usually alternate. The male and female flowers are normally small, white or tinged pink, and on separate plants. The fruit is usually a colourful berry. |
| CELASTRACEAE (SPINDLE FAMILY)A family of almost 100 genera and more than 1,000 species of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers, found in many parts of the world and in many climatic types. The leaves may be opposite or alternate and the greenish flowers are usually small and insignificant. |
| BUXACEAE (BOX FAMILY)A family of about 60 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, with a few herbaceous plants. The leaves are normally opposite and the flowers are tiny, usually growing in clusters. |
| RHAMNACEAE (BUCKTHORN FAMILY)A family of about 60 genera and 900 species of trees, shrubs and climbers found in most regions of the world. They may be deciduous or evergreen, bear spines on the shoots and branches and have alternate or opposite leaves. The flowers are small and separate sexes may occur on different plants. A number of species yield useful dyes, and many are poisonous. |
| TILIACEAE (LIME FAMILY)A family of more than 700 species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. The majority are found in the tropics but the 30 true limes (Tilia), which originated in the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, are the only trees. The leaves are alternate and may be lobed, and they often have star-like hairs. The flowers are small, frequently fragrant, with 5 petals and sepals and many stamens. The fruit is usually a dry capsule, but it may be hard and woody. The timber is pale and soft and can be used for wood-carving. |
| PITTOSPORACEAE (PITTOSPORUM FAMILY)A large family of 9 genera and over 200 species, mostly originating in Australasia. The leaves are alternate and usually untoothed and the 5-lobed flowers develop into either dry or succulent fruits. Some are cultivated and numerous attractive varieties occur in gardens. |
| TAMARICACEAE (TAMARISK FAMILY)A family of small trees and shrubs with tiny, scale-like, clasping alternate leaves and glands that excrete salt. The flowers are small but borne in dense heads. The seeds are wind-dispersed and are good colonisers of disturbed ground. Many grow near the sea. |
| ELAEAGNACEAE (OLEASTER FAMILY)A family of about 50 species of evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees, found in temperate and cooler regions in the northern hemisphere. The twigs are frequently armed with spines. The leaves have entire margins, may be scaly on the underside and are either opposite or alternate. The flowers are small and lack petals, and the sexes may be separated on different plants. Some species produce edible fruits. |
| MYRTACEAE (MYRTLE FAMILY)A large family mainly occurring in the southern hemisphere. Only a single representative occurs naturally in Europe (the evergreen shrub Myrtle Myrtus communis), and none is known in North America. The family does, however, include the genus Eucalyptus, trees from Australasia. Overall, the family includes about 4,000 species of mostly evergreen aromatic trees and shrubs. The leaves are generally opposite and the flowers have 4 or 5 petals but many stamens. |
| EUCRYPHIACEAE (EUCRYPHIA FAMILY)A small family of 5 species in a single genus, but widespread, occurring in Chile and Australasia. The leaves are opposite and may be simple or pinnate, with entire or toothed margins. One is deciduous but the others are evergreen. The flowers, borne in summer, are showy and make these trees popular subjects for large gardens. |
| NYSSACEAE (BLACK GUM FAMILY)A small family of 7 trees native to E Asia and North America. The male and female flowers are separate but borne on the same tree. The flowers are small and lack petals, but may be conspicuous because of large showy bracts below them. The leaves are alternate. |
