The Rose (Rosaceae) Plant Family

Plant families contain plants that, on first look, do not resemble each other at all. The rose family, for instance, has in the neighborhood of 3,100 species and 107 genera Look at the Latin or scientific name. The first word is the genera the plant belongs to and the way you can find out what family the plant is a member of.

Plant families may have very diverse members, but they will all have some qualities in common. Members of the rose family can be trees, shrubs, herbs or vines and most of them will have thorns. The flowers are symmetrical, have 5 sepals-the leaf-like parts that surround the flower buds, 5 petals that grow from the top of a structure that looks like a cup or sauce, many stamens-the male part of the flower and one compound or several simple ovaries.
If the plant has simple leaves, they will alternate up the stems. If the plant has compound leaves, they will grow opposite each other.

Malus is one of the genera. Members are apple varieties that grow in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere.

Amelanchier is the genus of shrubs and small trees, many with suckering growths that create small colonies. Members include Apple serviceberry (Amelanchier × grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance').

Rubus includes brambles bearing berries including raspberries (Rubus glaucus), Northern Dewberry(
Rubus flagellaris), Hill Raspberry (Rubus niveus) and Arizona Dewberry (Rubus arizonensis).

Sorbus is a genus of about 100-200 species of trees and shrubs known as whitebeam, rowan, service tree, and mountain ash.

Crataegus commonly called hawthorn or thornapple, is a large genus of shrubs and trees.

Potentilla contains about 500 species of typical cinquefoils--annual, biennial and perennial herbs.

Cotoneaster is a genus of woody plants. Most are shrubs that grow up to 16 feet tall.

Alchemilla contains herbaceous perennial plants most of which are native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia. The genus also contains plants native to the mountains of Africa, North America and South America.

It may seem hard to believe that a rose bush is related to a tall ash tree, but they are. Scientists classify them by similar characteristics and they have been known to change their minds and move plants around. Recent developments in DNA research have given them the most powerful tool ever. DNA is being used to trace the family history of plants back to pre historic times and this could mean that more plants will find themselves moving to new families.

Sources:

Botanical

American Rose Society

Montana Plant LIfe

Wikipedia