Valvenaceae

Valvenaceae is a name that has appeared in some botanical classifications as a distinct family within the order Dipsacales. In widely accepted contemporary classifications, Valvenaceae is not recognized as a separate family. The genera that were at times placed in Valvenaceae are generally treated as part of Caprifoliaceae sensu lato or Valerianaceae, depending on the system. As a result, the rank and composition of Valvenaceae are uncertain and vary by source.

Historically, those classifications that used Valvenaceae grouped herbaceous perennials with relatively simple to compound leaves and small flowers arranged in dense inflorescences. Floral structures were described as five-merous, with tubular or radiate corollas, and fruit types commonly noted as achenes or other dry fruits. However, this variation among supposed members contributed to the shifting treatment and eventual dissolution of Valvenaceae as a stand-alone family in modern systems.

Geographic distribution for taxa historically associated with Valvenaceae is broad in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reflecting the widespread presence of related Dipsacales members. The taxonomic status of Valvenaceae in floras and checklists is thus primarily of historical interest, and current treatments typically refer to the included taxa by their recognized family names.

See also: Caprifoliaceae, Valerianaceae, Dipsacales.