{{Short description|Family of flowering plants comprising rock roses}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Cistus incanus 2004.jpg | image_caption = ''Cistus incanus'' | taxon = Cistaceae | authority = Juss.<ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = *''Cistus'' {{small|L.}} (rock roses) *''Crocanthemum'' {{small|Spach}} *''Fumana'' {{small|(Dunal) Spach}} *''Helianthemum'' {{small|Mill.}} *''Hudsonia'' {{small|L.}} *''Lechea'' {{small|Kalm}} *''Pakaraimaea'' {{small|Maguire and P.S.Ashton}} *''Tuberaria'' {{small|(Dunal) Spach}} |subdivision_ref = <ref name="powo">{{cite web |title=Cistaceae Juss. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30002304-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref> }}
The '''Cistaceae''' are a small family of plants (the '''rock-rose''' or '''rockrose family'''), mostly shrubs, which are profusely covered by flowers in the spring and summer. This family consists of about 170-200 species<ref name="Christenhusz-Byng2016">{{cite journal |author1=Christenhusz, M. J. M. |author2=Byng, J. W. |name-list-style=amp | year = 2016 | title = The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase | journal = Phytotaxa | volume = 261 | pages = 201–217 | url = http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/download/phytotaxa.261.3.1/20598 | doi = 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 | issue = 3 | doi-access = free }}</ref> in eight genera<ref name = powo/> that are not very distinct, distributed primarily in the temperate areas of Europe and the Mediterranean basin, but also found in North America; a limited number of species are found in South America. Most Cistaceae are subshrubs and low shrubs, and some are herbaceous. They prefer dry and sunny habitats. Cistaceae grow well on poor soils, and many of them are cultivated in gardens.
They often have showy yellow, pink or white flowers, which are generally short-lived. The flowers are bisexual, regular, solitary or borne in cymes; they usually have five, sometimes three (''Lechea''), petals. The petals are free, usually crumpled in the bud, and sometimes in the open flower (e. g. ''Cistus incanus''). The flowers have five sepals, the inner three of which are distinctly wider, and the outer two are narrow and sometimes regarded as bracteoles. This sepal arrangement is a characteristic property of the family.
The stamens are numerous, of variable length, and sit on a disc; filaments are free. The ovary is superior, usually with three carpels; placentation is parietal, with two or more ovules on each placenta. The fruit is a capsule, usually with five or ten valves (three in ''Helianthemum''). The seeds are small, with a hard, water-impermeable coating, weighing around 1 mg.<ref name="Thanos">Thanos, C. A., K. Georghiou, C. Kadis, C. Pantazi (1992). Cistaceae: a plant family with hard seeds. ''Israel Journal of Botany'' 41 (4-6): 251-263. (Available online: [http://www.biology.uoa.gr/~cthanos/Papers/Abstracts/Cistaceae.htm Abstract] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205134307/http://www.biology.uoa.gr/~cthanos/Papers/Abstracts/Cistaceae.htm |date=2004-12-05 }} | [http://www.biology.uoa.gr/~cthanos/Papers/Cistaceae.pdf Full text (PDF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040609052539/http://www.biology.uoa.gr/~cthanos/Papers/Cistaceae.pdf |date=2004-06-09 }})</ref><ref>Heywood, V. H. (ed.) (1993). ''Flowering plants of the world'', pp. 108–109. London: Batsford. {{ISBN|0-19-521037-9}}</ref><ref>Hutchinson, J. (1973). ''The families of flowering plants: arranged according to a new system based on their probable phylogeny'' (3rd ed.), pp. 254–255. Oxford: Clarendon. {{ISBN|0-19-854377-8}}. </ref><ref>Judd W. S., C. S. Campbell, E. A. Kellogg, P. F. Stevens, M. J. Donoghue (2002). ''Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach'', 2nd edition, pp. 409–410 (Cistaceae). Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates. {{ISBN|0-87893-403-0}}. * Jussieu, Antoine Laurent de (1789). ''Genera Plantarum'': 294. Parisiis. </ref><ref>Mabberley, D. J. (1997). ''The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants'' (2nd ed.), p. 160. New York: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-41421-0}}. </ref>
Recently the neotropical species ''Pakaraimaea dipterocarpacea'', formerly placed in the family Dipterocarpaceae, has been placed in the Cistaceae, following APG IV (2016).<ref name="apgiv">{{Citation |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2016 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–20 |doi= 10.1111/boj.12385|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="powo"/> Unlike the rest of the family, it is a large tree, with specimens to over 130 cm trunk diameter reported.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Pakaraimaea dipterocarpacea'' |website=Tropical Fungi |date=2014-09-19 |url=https://tropicalfungi.org/fungi-portfolio/pakaraimaea-dipterocarpacea-5/ |access-date=2026-02-17}}</ref> It has also been suggested that it might be better treated in its own monotypic family.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kostermans |first=A. J. G. H. |title=FAMILY STATUS FOR THE MONOTOIDEAE GILG AND THE PAKARAIMOIDEAE ASHTON, MAGUIRE AND DE ZEEUW (DIPTEROCARPACEAE) |journal=Taxon |volume=34 |issue=3 |date=1985 |issn=0040-0262 |doi=10.2307/1221209 |pages=426–435 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2307/1221209 |access-date=2026-02-17|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Botanische Staatssammlung München » Pakaraimaea (incertis sedis in Cistaceae) |website=Botanische Staatssammlung München - Bavarian State Collection for Botany |date=2024-02-16 |url=https://bsm.snsb.de/pakaraimaea/ |ref={{sfnref| Botanische Staatssammlung München - Bavarian State Collection for Botany |2024}} |access-date=2026-02-17}}</ref>
==Ecology== [[Image:Cistus purpureus.jpg|thumb|180px|left|''Cistus × purpureus'' orchid rock rose]] The ability of Cistaceae to thrive in many Mediterranean habitats follows from two important ecological properties: mycorrhizal ability and fast renewal after wildfire. Most Cistaceae have the ability to create symbiotic relationship with root fungi of the genus ''Tuber''.<ref>Chevalier, G., D. Mousain, Y. Couteaudier (1975). Associations ectomycorhiziennes entre Tubéracées et Cistacées. ''Annales de Phytopathologie'' '''7'''(4): 355-356</ref><ref name="giovanetti">Giovannetti, G., A. Fontana (1982). Mycorrhizal synthesis between Cistaceae and Tuberaceae. ''New Phytologist'' '''92''': 533-537</ref> In this relationship, the fungus complements the root system in its task of absorbing water and minerals from the soil, and thus allows the host plant to dwell on particularly poor soils. In addition, an interesting quality of ''T. melanosporum'' is its ability to kill all vegetation except the host plant within the reach of its mycelium, and thus to give its host some sort of "exclusiveness" for the adjacent land area.<ref name="giovanetti"/>
Cistaceae have also optimally adapted to the wildfires that frequently eradicate large areas of forest. The plants cast their seeds in the soil during the growth period, but they do not germinate in the next season. Their hard coating is impermeable to the water, and thus the seeds remain dormant for a long period of time. This coating together with their small size allows these plants to establish a large seed bank rather deep in the soil. Once the fire comes and kills the vegetation in the area, the seed coating softens or cracks as a result of the heating, and the surviving seeds germinate shortly after the fire. This mechanism allows the Cistaceae to produce a large number of young shoots simultaneously and at the right time, and thus to obtain an important advantage over other plants in the process of repopulating the area.<ref name="Thanos"/><ref>Ferrandis, P., J. M. Herrantz, J. J. Martínez-Sánchez (1999). Effect of fire on hard-coated Cistaceae seed banks and its influence on techniques for quantifying seed banks. ''Plant Ecology'' 144 (1): 103-114. (Available online: [https://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009816309061 DOI]) </ref>
==Systematics== Molecular analyses of angiosperms have placed Cistaceae within the Malvales, forming a clade with two families of tropical trees, Dipterocarpaceae and Sarcolaenaceae.<ref name="Salvolainen et al. 2000">Savolainen, V., M. W. Chase, S. B. Hoot, C. M. Morton, D. E. Soltis, C. Bayer, M. F. Fay, A. Y. De Bruijn, S. Sullivan, and Y.-L. Qiu. 2000. Phylogenetics of Flowering Plants Based on Combined Analysis of Plastid atpB and rbcL Gene Sequences. Syst Biol 49:306-362.</ref><ref name="Soltis et al. 2000">Soltis, D. E., P. S. Soltis, M. W. Chase, M. E. Mort, D. C. Albach, M. Zanis, V. Savolainen, W. H. Hahn, S. B. Hoop, M. F. Fay, M. Axtell, S. M. Swensen, L. M. Prince, W. J. Kress, K. C. Nison, and J. S. Farris. 2000. Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, vbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 133:381-461.</ref> Recent phylogenetic studies confirm the monophyly of Cistaceae on the basis of plastid sequences and morphological synapomorphies.<ref name=Guzmán>{{cite journal|url=https://www.rjb.csic.es/jardinbotanico/ficheros/documentos/pdf/pubinv/PVG/GuzmanVargas_009ODECistaceae.pdf|journal=Organisms, Diversity & Evolution |volume=9|date=2009|pages=83–99|title=Historical biogeography and character evolution of Cistaceae (Malvales) based on analysis of plastid rbcL and trnL-trnF sequences|author1=Beatriz Guzmán|author2=Pablo Vargas|issue=2 |doi=10.1016/j.ode.2009.01.001 |access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref>
Within Cistaceae, eight genera are recognised, including four in the Mediterranean (''Cistus'', ''Fumana'', ''Helianthemum'', ''Tuberaria''), three in the temperate regions of North America (''Crocanthemum'', ''Hudsonia'', ''Lechea''), and one in tropical South America (''Pakaraimaea'').<ref name = powo/> Seven of these eight genera can be grouped into five major lineages within Cistaceae (''Pakaraimaea'' was not included in this study):<ref name=Guzmán/> *A basal clade of the genus ''Fumana'' *The New World clade of ''Lechea'' *The ''Helianthemum'' s. l. clade, consisting of the sister groups ''Crocanthemum'' and ''Hudsonia'' from the New World, and ''Helianthemum'' s. s. from the Old World *The ''Tuberaria'' clade *A cohesive complex of ''Cistus'' species, including the former genus ''Halimium''
==Cultivation and uses== {{More citations needed section|date=September 2013}} [[File:Anthrax sp. over Cistus sp. 01 by-dpc.jpg|thumb|right|220px|An ''Anthrax'' fly on rock-rose near Sotosalbos, Spain]]
''Cistus'' (including ''Halimium'') and ''Helianthemum'' are widely cultivated as ornamental plants. Their soil requirements are modest, and their hardiness allows some to survive well even the snowy winters of Northern Europe.
Some ''Cistus'' species, mostly ''C. ladanifer'', are used to produce an aromatic resin, used in the perfume industry.
The ability of Cistaceae to create mycorrhizal relation with truffle mushroom (''Tuber'') prompted several studies about using them as host plants for truffle cultivation. The small size of ''Cistus'' shrubs could prove favourable, as they take up less space than traditional hosts, such as oak (''Quercus'') or pine (''Pinus''), and could thus lead to larger yield per field unit.{{citation needed|date=February 2026}}
Cistaceae has been listed as one of the 38 plants used to prepare Bach flower remedies,<ref name="Vohra2004">{{cite book|author=D. S. Vohra|title=Bach Flower Remedies: A Comprehensive Study|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=icG8onA0ys8C&pg=PR3|access-date=2 September 2013|date=1 June 2004|publisher=B. Jain Publishers|isbn=978-81-7021-271-3|page=3}}</ref> a kind of alternative medicine promoted for its effect on health. However, according to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/flower-remedies |title=Flower remedies |publisher=Cancer Research UK |access-date=2 September 2013 }}</ref>
==Synonymous genera== These generic names inside Cistaceae were defined in various publications,<ref>IPNI (2004). The International Plant Names Index - [http://www.ipni.org/ipni/plantsearch?find_family=Cistaceae&find_isAPNIRecord=on&find_isGCIRecord=on&find_isIKRecord=on&output_format=normal&query_type=by_query Record on Cistaceae]. Retrieved 15 November 2004.</ref><ref>Kew (2004). [http://www.kew.org/cgi-bin/web.dbs/genlist.pl?CISTACEAE List of genera in Cistaceae] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929133457/http://www.kew.org/cgi-bin/web.dbs/genlist.pl?CISTACEAE |date=2007-09-29 }}, in {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20041118100118/http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/data/genlist.html Vascular Plant Families and Genera Database]}}, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 November 2004.</ref> but their members were synonymised with the eight accepted genera by later research. {{div col|colwidth=10em}} * ''Anthelis'' * ''Aphananthemum'' * ''Atlanthemum'' * ''Fumanopsis'' * ''Halimium'' * ''Helianthemon'' * ''Hemiptelea'' * ''Heteromeris'' * ''Horanthes'' * ''Horanthus'' * ''Ladanium'' * ''Ladanum'' * ''Lecheoides'' * ''Lechidium'' * ''Ledonia'' * ''Libanotis'' * ''Planera'' * ''Platonia'' * ''Pomelina'' * ''Psistina'' * ''Psistus'' * ''Rhodax'' * ''Rhodocistus'' * ''Stegitris'' * ''Stephanocarpus'' * ''Strobon'' * ''Taeniostema'' * ''Therocistus'' * ''Trichasterophyllum'' * ''Xolantha'' * ''Xolanthes'' {{div col end}}
==Fossil record== †''Cistinocarpum roemeri'', a middle Oligocene macrofossil from Germany is described as an ancestor of extant Cistaceae. Tuberaria fossil pollen have been found in Pliocene formations of Germany.<ref name=Guzmán/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * Page R. G. [http://www.cistuspage.org.uk/ The Cistus & Halimium Website] - the [https://web.archive.org/web/20041010190304/http://www.cistuspage.org.uk/BIBLIOG-Alphabetical.htm bibliography] contains many references to Cistaceae. * Stevens P.F. (2001 onwards). [https://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/ Angiosperm Phylogeny Website] ([https://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/orders/malvalesweb.htm#Cistaceae Cistaceae]). Version 5, May 2004.
{{Angiosperm families}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q156282}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Cistaceae Category:Malvales families