Steviaceae

Steviaceae is a small group of flowering plants that has been variably recognized by taxonomists. In some classifications it is treated as a distinct family containing a handful of genera led by Stevia. In many contemporary systems, however, Steviaceae is not recognized as a separate family; instead its members are placed within Amaranthaceae sensu lato, as either a subfamily Steviodeae or a tribe Steviinae, reflecting ongoing revisions in angiosperm phylogeny.

Geographic distribution and composition: The group includes tropical and subtropical representatives native to the Americas, particularly in South and Central America. The best known cultivated member is Stevia rebaudiana, valued for its non-caloric sweetening compounds. Other genera and species within the broader group are of mainly botanical interest rather than economic importance.

Botanical characteristics: Members are typically herbaceous plants, and in some lineages may be shrubs. They produce relatively small flowers arranged in inflorescences. Morphological features vary among genera, and modern circumscriptions rely heavily on molecular data to resolve relationships within the Caryophyllales and related groups.

Economic importance: Stevia rebaudiana leaves contain steviol glycosides, natural compounds used as high-intensity sweeteners in foods and beverages. The species is cultivated and traded internationally. Other taxa in the broader group have limited economic significance but contribute to botanical and phylogenetic studies within Caryophyllales.

Taxonomic history: The circumscription of Steviaceae has shifted across classification systems. Advances in DNA sequencing have prompted re-evaluations, with many authorities placing Stevia and its relatives within Amaranthaceae s.l., reducing the formal status of Steviaceae as a separate family.