Herbs, perennial (annual or biennial in Poteridium) [shrubs or trees]; unarmed (hypanthia armed in Acaena). Leaves alternate, odd-pinnately compound; stipules persistent (absent in Acaena), adnate to petiole (free in Poterium); venation pinnate. Flowers: perianth and androecium perigynous; epicalyx bractlets absent; hypanthium hemispheric, obconic, ovoid, urceolate, top-shaped, ellipsoid, nearly orbicular, or obtriangular; torus absent; carpels 1 or 2(or 3), rarely more, styles terminal, distinct; ovule 1, apical. Fruits achenes, enclosed within enlarged, often hardened, sometimes armed hypanthia; styles deciduous, not elongate.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, West Indies (Hispaniola), South America, Eurasia, Africa, Atlantic Islands, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Genera 12, species ca. 270 (5 genera, 17 species in the flora).

The base chromosome number for Agrimonieae is x = 7. Acaena and Sanguisorba are host to Phragmidium rusts. The tribal name Agrimonieae has priority over Sanguisorbeae, used by, among others, D. Potter et al. (2007). Agrimonieae also includes the genera Aremonia Necker ex Nestler (Europe), Cliffortia Linnaeus, Hagenia J. F. Gmelin and Leucosidea Ecklon & Zeyher (Africa), Margyricarpus Ruiz & Pavón and Polylepis Ruiz & Pavón (South America), and Spenceria Trimen (Asia) (Potter et al.).

Selected References

Kerr, M. S. 2004. A Phylogenetic and Biogeographic Analysis of Sanguisorbeae (Rosaceae), with Emphasis on the Pleistocene Radiation of the High Andean Genus Polylepis. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Maryland.

Nordborg, G. 1966. Sanguisorba L., Sarcopoterium Spach, and Bencomia Webb et Berth.: Delimitation and subdivision of the genera. Opera Bot. 11: 1–103.

Lower Taxa

Acaena, Agrimonia, Poteridium, Poterium, Sanguisorba

Key

1	Stems creeping or suberect; hypanthia spiny.	Acaena
1	Stems ascending to erect; hypanthia not spiny (rim bristly in fruit in Agrimonia)	> 2
2	Inflorescences racemes (simple or compound); leaf blades with minor leaflet pairs between major pairs; petals 5 (yellow); hypanthial rim with 2–5 rows of bristles.	Agrimonia
2	Inflorescences spikes (cylindric, globose, or headlike); leaf blades without minor leaflet pairs between major pairs; petals 0; hypanthial rim without rows of bristles	> 3
3	Leaflet margins pectinately pinnatisect.	Poteridium
3	Leaflet margins crenate, serrate, or incised	> 4
4	Spikes headlike; flowers bisexual or pistillate (plants gynomonoecious); sepals distinct.	Poterium
4	Spikes ellipsoid to cylindric; flowers bisexual; sepals basally connate.	Sanguisorba