Cistaceae
Shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes annual herbs, often with volatile oils; indumentum of stellate and glandular hairs. Lvs usually opposite, rarely alternate, simple; stipules present or 0. Fls solitary or in cymes, ⚥, regular, actinomorphic, often large. Sepals 3-5, the outer 2 often < inner 3; inner sepals usually persistent. Petals usually 5, less often 3 or 0, caducous, crumpled in bud. Stamens numerous; filaments free. Ovary superior, sessile, 1-locular, or incompletely septate with 3-5-(10) parietal placentae. Style simple or 0; stigmas 1 or 3, free or united; ovules numerous. Fr. a many-seeded loculicidal capsule. Seeds numerous, with ± curved embryo, endospermic.
8 genera, c. 200 spp., N. temperate, mainly Mediterranean region, a few in S. America.
In addition to Cistus, the genus Helianthemum Miller is common in cultivation. At least in N.Z., these are dwarf or prostrate, mat-forming shrublets with yellow to red fls which are smaller than those of the Cistus spp. in N.Z. Wild plants have been reported recently from C. Otago but no specimens were collected. Helianthemum spp. thrive where conditions are suitable for Cistus spp. so may well become naturalised in the future.
