DipsacaceaeJuss., Gen. Pl. [Jussieu] 194. 1789 [4 Aug 1789] (1789) nom. cons. ValerianaceaeBatsch, Tab. Affin. Regni Veg. 227. 1802 [2 May 1802] (1802) nom. cons.
The flowering plants in this clade are mostlyshrubs andvines: rarelyherbs. They include someornamental garden plants grown intemperate regions. Theleaves are mostly opposite with nostipules (appendages at the base of a leafstalk orpetiole), and may be eitherevergreen ordeciduous. Theflowers are tubular funnel-shaped or bell-like, usually with five outward spreading lobes or points, and are often fragrant. They usually form a smallcalyx with smallbracts. Thefruit is in most cases aberry or adrupe. The generaDiervilla andWeigela havecapsular fruit, whileHeptacodium has anachene.
Views of the family-level classification of the traditionally accepted Caprifoliaceae and other plants in the botanical orderDipsacales have been considerably revised in recent decades. Most botanists now accept the placement of two of the most familiar members of this group, the elderberries (Sambucus) and the viburnums (Viburnum), in the familyAdoxaceae instead; these were formerly classified here. 33 genera are currently accepted.[2]
Several other families of the more broadly treated Caprifoliaceaes.l. are separated by some but not all authors; these are treated as subfamilies in the listing of genera below,[3] along with estimated numbers of species.
Flowering shoot ofLonicera caprifolium. 1, Fruit; 2, horizontal plan of flower.
SubfamilyDiervilloideae
DiervillaTourn. ex Mill. – bush honeysuckle, 3 species
The plants belonging to this family are mainly hardy shrubs or vines ofornamental value, many of which are popular garden shrubs, notably species belonging to the generaAbelia,Lonicera, andWeigela.Valerianella locusta is cultivated for use in food.
^abMayer, V. and Ehrendorfer, F. (2013), The phylogenetic position ofPterocephalidium and the new African genusPterothamnus within an improved classification of Dipsacaceae.Taxon, 62: 112-126.https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.621010
