podrodzina

Podrodzina is a taxonomic rank used to group related families within a larger clade. It is positioned below the family (rodzina) and above the tribe (plemię) in zoological and botanical classifications.

In zoology the corresponding term is subfamily, with names typically ending in -inae; in botany the counterpart ends in -oideae. The Polish term podrodzina is the standard translation and is widely used in Polish-language taxonomic literature.

The name of a podrodzina is usually formed from a genus within it and the appropriate Latin suffix. Classification systems vary; some authors treat this rank differently or merge it with other ranks, leading to inconsistent usage across groups.

Examples: podrodzina Faboideae (botany) within Fabaceae; podrodzina Homininae (zoology) within Hominidae.

The rank helps reflect evolutionary relationships by grouping genera with common ancestry. Its use is not universal, and some classifications omit it.