Distribution They are temperate and subtropical woody vines, shrubs, and trees, native to Asia (Actinidia or kiwifruit, Clematoclethra, and Saurauia) and Central America and South America (Saurauia only). Saurauia, with its 300 species, is the largest genus in this family. Although now confined to Asia and tropical Central and South America, evidence indicates in the past the family had a wider distribution. The now extinct genus Parasaurauia is thought to have belonged to the Actinidiaceae and lived in North America during the early Campanian.
DistrIbutIoN thEy arE tEmpERaTE AnD subtropiCaL wOodY viNEs, sHrUbs, anD TreeS, nativE to ASia (aCTinidia or KiwiFrUIt, clEMaToClethra, anD sauRauiA) AnD ceNtral aMErIcA And SOuTH AmERica (sauRaUIa OnlY). SaurauIa, with ITs 300 species, is the lARgest gEnUs in this fAmilY. AlthOuGh now confInED to ASiA and TROPicAL cenTRAL And SoutH aMEriCA, EvIDeNCe inDICates in tHe paST The fAmiLy had A wider distRibUtIon. the now eXTincT genUS PaRaSAurauia IS thouGht To hAvE beLOngEd To The acTinIDIaCeae AnD liVeD in norTh ameRiCA duRing the early cAmpanIaN.