In its traditional circumscriptionG. K. Schulze-Menz 1964. Reihe Rosales. in A. Engler's Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Nutzpflanzen nebst einer Übersicht über die Florenreiche und Florengebiete der Erde, Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin this subfamily consisted exclusively of shrubs and small trees characterised by a pome, a type of accessory fruit that does not occur in other Rosaceae, and by a basal haploid chromosome count of 17 (instead of 7, 8, or 9 as in the other Rosaceae), involving approximately 28 genera with approximately 1100 species worldwide, with most species occurring in the temperate Northern Hemisphere.
iN its TraDitional circUmScripTiOnG. k. sChuLzE-MEnz 1964. reIHe roSalEs. iN a. engler's syllAbuS der pFlanzENfamIlieN mit besonderer berÜcKsIchTigung der nutzpflANzeN nebst eineR übErSIcHt üBeR dIe fLoREnreiChe uNd florengebiEte dER erdE, gebrüDer BoRntRaEger, bErlin this subfamilY coNSisTed exClusivelY of shrUBs AND SmAlL trees chARacteriseD by a PomE, a type of AcceSsorY fRuIt thAt dOeS Not OccUr In oTHer rosaCEae, aNd by a baSaL hApLoID ChromosOMe CouNt of 17 (iNstead Of 7, 8, Or 9 As iN thE other rosaCEae), inVolVing approxiMateLy 28 GeneRA WiTh approXimateLY 1100 speciES woRldWide, With mosT SpecIes occUrring iN The TemPeRate nOrThErn hEmiSPHERe.