Rosales facts for kids

A beautiful rose, a well-known member of the Rosales order.

Rosales is a large group of flowering plants. Think of it like a big family tree for many different plants! This group includes some plants you probably know very well, such as beautiful roses, tasty strawberries, and even the trees that give us apples and pears.

Plants are put into the Rosales group because their DNA is very similar. This means they are related to each other, even if they look quite different on the outside.

What are Rosales?

In biology, an "order" is a way to group living things that are related. Rosales is one of these orders for plants. It's a very important group because it contains so many plants that are useful or familiar to us.

This plant order includes nine main families. Each family is a smaller group of plants that are even more closely related. For example, the famous rose belongs to the Rosaceae family, which is part of the Rosales order.

Families in Rosales

The Rosales order is made up of several plant families. Each family has its own unique features and includes many different types of plants. Here are some of the main families you can find in Rosales:

Rosaceae: The Rose Family

This is perhaps the most famous family in the Rosales order. It includes not just roses, but also many fruits we love to eat.

• Fruits: Think of delicious strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
• Tree Fruits: Apples, pears, plums, peaches, and apricots are all part of this family.
• Nuts: Even almonds come from a plant in the Rosaceae family!
• Other Plants: You'll also find plants like rowan and hawthorn here.

Ulmaceae: The Elm Family

This family mainly includes trees like the elm. Elm trees are known for their strong wood and are often found in forests and parks.

Moraceae: The Mulberry Family

This family includes the mulberry tree, which produces sweet berries. It also contains the fig tree, known for its unique and tasty fruit.

Urticaceae: The Nettle Family

This family is famous for the nettle plant. Nettles are known for their stinging hairs, but they are also used in some traditional medicines and even as food when cooked properly.

Cannabaceae: The Hemp Family

This family includes hemp, a plant used to make fibers for clothing and ropes.

Other Families

The Rosales order also includes other families like Barbeyaceae, Dirachmaceae, Elaeagnaceae, and Rhamnaceae (the buckthorn family). These families might not be as well-known, but they are still important parts of the plant world.