Shrubs [trees], subshrubs, or herbs, perennial; unarmed. Leaves alternate, sometimes opposite (Geum), pinnately compound or simple; stipules persistent, ± free or ± adnate to petiole; venation pinnate or palmate. Flowers: perianth and androecium perigynous; epicalyx bractlets absent or present; hypanthium funnelform, saucer to cupshaped, or obconic to obcampanulate; torus usually enlarged; carpels (2 or) 3–250 (–450), styles terminal (subterminal in Waldsteinia), distinct; ovules 1 or 2, basal, superposed. Fruits aggregated achenes; styles persistent, sometimes deciduous (Waldsteinia), elongate, sometimes hooked, glabrous or hairy, rarely plumose.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia

Discussion

Genera 4, species ca. 60 (4 genera, 22 species in the flora).

Waldsteinia is recognized as distinct from Geum in this treatment, while D. Potter et al. (2007) included the former in the latter. Names are provided for users who would prefer to include Waldsteinia within Geum, as supported by molecular data (J. E. E. Smedmark and T. Eriksson 2002).

The base chromosome number for Colurieae is x = 7. Except for Fallugia, the genera of Colurieae are host to Phragmidium rusts. C. Kalkman (2004) stated that two ovules had been reported for Fallugia but that he observed only one, which would accord better with membership in Colurieae.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Fallugia, Geum, Sieversia, Waldsteinia

Key

1	Shrubs, 10–20(–35) dm; leaves simple; flowers all pistillate, all staminate, or staminate with terminal one bisexual.	Fallugia
1	Herbs or subshrubs, 0.2–12 dm; leaves simple, sometimes lobed, or ternately or pinnately compound; flowers bisexual	> 2
2	Subshrubs; inflorescences: flowers solitary.	Sieversia
2	Herbs; inflorescences 1–18-flowered, open cymes or panicles	> 3
3	Plants subscapose or leafy-stemmed; tori hemispheric to cylindric; carpels (2–)20–250(–450); fruiting styles persistent, elongating, hooked or not.	Geum
3	Plants scapose; tori not evident; carpels 3–7; fruiting styles deciduous, not hooked.	Waldsteinia

"thin" is not a number.