Family

A family is the next category above genus and gathers together a group of related genera. Because it spans several genera, a family shares fewer similarities among its members than are found within a single genus or species. In plants, families are recognised on the basis of both vegetative and reproductive features of the plant species they contain.

Examples:

• Among plants, the three genera Solanum, Petunia and Datura are placed together in the family Solanaceae.
• Among animals, the genus Panthera (lion, tiger, leopard) is grouped with the genus Felis (cats) in the family Felidae. …