Perennial herbs with woody rhizomes. Leaves mostly basal, palmately lobed to palmatifid; stipules large and persistent. Inflorescence a compound cyme with flowers aggregated into clusters. Epicalyx and calyx 4-lobed (in Victoria); petals absent; hypanthium campanulate to urceolate; stamens 1–5, inserted on disc; ovary superior, 1-locular with 1 ovule; stigma and style 1, style basal. Fruit an achene, wholly or partly enclosed by hypanthium.
250 species, mostly in temperate regions, occasionally on mountains in tropics; 1 species in Australia.
Source:
Jeanes, J.A.; Jobson, P.C. (1996). Rosaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 556–585. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
