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| Geraniales
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||
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| Families ( APG II) | ||||||||
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Geraniaceae ( geranium family) Melianthaceae Vivianiaceae Ledocarpaceae
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The Geraniales are an small order of flowering plants, included within the rosid subgroup of dicotyledons. The largest family in the order is the Geraniaceae with over 800 species. In addition, the order includes some small families, contributing together another less that 40 species. Most Geraniales are herbaceous, but there are also shrubs and small trees.
The economic importance of Geraniales is low. Some species of the genus Pelargonium are cultivated for their aromatic oil used in the perfume industry. Some other species, also mostly Geraniaceae, have horticultural or medicinal uses.
Paleobotanic record is missing.
The families given at right are typical of newer classifications. In this definition, Hypseocharitaceae and Francoaceae with Greyiaceae are included within Geraniaceae and Melianthaceae respectively, but may also be treated separately. Instead, the Ledocarpaceae may be included within the Vivianiaceae.
Under the older Cronquist system, the Geraniales had a different composition, comprising the following families:
The Vivianiaceae and Ledocarpaceae were included within the Geraniaceae, and the Hypseocharitaceae within the Oxalidaceae, which are now treated in the order Oxalidales. The Melianthaceae were placed within the Sapindales, the Greyiaceae and Francoaceae within the RosalesRosaceae ( rose family) Elaeagnaceae Rhamnaceae ( buckthorn family) Ulmaceae ( elm family) Celtidaceae Moraceae ( mulberry family) Urticaceae ( nettle family) Cecropiaceae Cannabaceae ( hemp family) Barbeyaceae Dirachmaceae Rosales is an order of flowerin, the latter subsumed within the Saxifragaceaemany, see text Saxifragaceae is a plant family with about 460 known species in 36 genera. In Europe there are 12 genera. The flowers are hermaphrodite and actinomorphous. They have 4 or 5 petals and the double count of stamens. Well known species include:.