The World Flora Online

Herbs, annual or perennial [canelike shrubs, rarely treelets, rarely climbing, sometimes epiphytic], evergreen [some tuberous species seasonally absent, notably Hillebrandia], ± succulent, usually hairy or scaly, sometimes glabrous. Leaves alternate in 2 ranks connate]; staminate flowers: tepals 2–4[–6, rarely more; 5 sepals and 5 petals in Hillebrandia], stamens [3–]6–33[–100+], distinct [filaments basally connate], [sometimes collectively bilaterally symmetric]; pistillate flowers: tepals [2–]4–5[+] [5 sepals, 5 petals in Hillebrandia], ovary inferior [semi-inferior in Hillebrandia], [2–]3[–9]-carpellate, [1–]3[–6]-winged [horned, ribbed, or angled, rarely not winged], wings unequal, [2–]3[–6]-locular [5-locular basally and ± 1-locular distally in Hillebrandia], placentation axile [axile and parietal in Hillebrandia] (placentae often 2-lobed), styles [2–]3[–9; 5 in Hillebrandia], distinct [rarely basally connate], stigmatic branches [4–]6[–12+], usually twisted [straight], ovules 15–50 per locule, anatropous, bitegmic, crassinucellate. Fruits capsular [baccate], winged [horned, ridged, or angled, rarely not winged, notably in Hillebrandia], papery [rarely fleshy], dehiscence loculicidal [indehiscent]. Seeds 25–100+, operculate (lid surrounded by collar cells), embryo straight, endosperm insubstantial or absent.

Plantes herbacées ou suffrutescentes, terrestres ou parfois épiphytes, monoïques, à tiges dressées, ou plantes ±acaules, à bulbes ou rhizomes. Feuilles alternes, pétiolées et stipulées; limbe souvent asymétrique. Inflorescence axillaire, rarement terminale, 1- ou 2-sexuée, cymeuse ou parfois fleurs solitaires. Fleurs unisexuées; tépales libres ou rarement soudés. Fleur ♂: pédicelle articulé vers la base, menant à la chute de la fleur complète après floraison; tépales 2-5; androcée à 3-plusieurs étamines en disposition actinomorphe ou zygomorphe, filets libres ou ±soudés, anthères basifixes, 2-loculaires, à déhiscence longitudinale ou par pores apicaux. Fleur ♀: tépales 2-5(-9); ovaire infère (semi-infère chez Hillebrandia), (1-)2-4(-6) loculaire, à placentation axiale, septale ou pariétale et à ovules nombreux; styles 2-6, libres ou partiellement soudés. Fruit charnu ou capsulaire, ailé ou aptère, parfois côtelée, déhiscent ou indéhiscent. Graines très petites, à tégument réticulé, germination operculée.

Plantes'dioïques ou monoïques, parfois épiphytes ou saprophytes, herbacées, ± charnues ou suffrutescentes, à tiges dressées ou rampantes, ou acaules, parfois à bulbe ou à rhizome, glabres ou à indument formé de poils basifixes ou médifixes et écailleux.'Feuilles'alternes, pétiolées, rarement subsessiles, généralement asymétriques, simples, parfois peltées, entières, lobées ou dentées; nervation palmée ou pennée; stipules libres, généralement persistantes.'Inflorescences'terminales et axillaires, ou naissant sur le rhizome, en cymes, racèmes, 1- ou 2-sexuées, ou fleurs solitaires; bractées et bractéoles généralement opposées et ± longtemps persistantes.'Fleurs'1-sexuées, rouges, blanches, rarement jaunes ou roses, zygomorphes, à périgone pétaloïde, à 2-8(10) tépales.'Fleurs'♂ à tépales libres (sauf'Begoniella'Oliv.,'Symbegonia'Warb. et'Semibegoniella'C.DC.), généralement 2 ou 4 et dans ce cas les 2 externes valvaires et les internes plus étroits et imbriqués; étamines nombreuses (4 chez'Begoniella ), à filets libres ou ± longuement soudés à la base; anthères basifixes, 2-loculaires, généralement à déhiscence par fentes longitudinales, rarement par pores apicaux; connectif souvent apiculé, parfois globuleux au sommet.'Fleurs'♀ à tépales libres (sauf'Begoniella'et'Symbegonia ), généralement 2-5, rarement 6-8, si plus de 2, les externes plus grands et recouvrant les internes; ovaire infère (semi-infère chez'Hillebrandia'Oliv.), généralement 2-3 (4-6)-loculaire, muni ou non de 1-3 (6) ailes ou côtes, parfois surmonté d'une colonne portant les tépales et les styles; placentas centraux ou pariétaux, entiers ou divisés; ovules ∞, anatropes; styles 2-3 (4-6), libres ou ± longuement soudés depuis la base, généralement fourchus; plages stigmatiques longitudinales ou spiralées, parfois enroulées.'Fruits': capsules ailées, côtelées ou aptères, soit loculicides, soit septicides ou indéhiscentes, rarement baies, 2-3 (4-6)-loculaires.'Graines ∞, très petites; albumen nul ou presque.\n\t\t\tFamille pantropicale mais absente en Australie et des Fidji aux Galapagos, comprenant 5 genres et environ 850 espèces; pour la Flore, 1 genre, 41 espèces et 2 variétés.

Fruit a capsule or berry Flowers monoecious, actinomorphic or asymmetric, mostly in axillary cymes, showy Leaves alternate, simple, often unequal-sided or oblique; stipules free, deciduous Female flower: perianth more or less as in the male; staminodes absent or very small; ovary inferior, 2–4- (rarely 1-) celled, mostly angled or winged; styles 2–5, free or connate; stigmas often twisted, papillose all over; ovules very numerous, on axile projecting simple or lobed placentas Male flower: sepals 2, opposite, rarely 5, valvate; petals imbricate or absent; stamens numerous, filaments free or connate, anthers 2-celled, continuous with the filament, opening lengthwise Herbs or undershrubs, mostly succulent Seeds minute and very numerous, with reticulate testa, scanty or no endosperm and straight embryo Flowers monoecious, actinomorphic or asymmetric, mostly in axillary cymes, showy Leaves alternate, simple, often unequal-sided or oblique; stipules free, deciduous Female flower: perianth more or less as in the male; staminodes absent or very small; ovary inferior, 2–4- (rarely 1-) celled, mostly angled or winged; styles 2–5, free or connate; stigmas often twisted, papillose all over; ovules very numerous, on axile projecting simple or lobed placentas Male flower: sepals 2, opposite, rarely 5, valvate; petals imbricate or absent; stamens numerous, filaments free or connate, anthers 2-celled, continuous with the filament, opening lengthwise Herbs or undershrubs, mostly succulent Seeds minute and very numerous, with reticulate testa, scanty or no endosperm and straight embryo

Fruit a capsule or berry; seeds minute and very numerous, with reticulate testa, little or no endosperm and straight embryo female flowers: tepals ± as in male, rarely 6–9; staminodes absent or very small; ovary inferior, (1)2–4(6)-celled, usually angled or winged; styles 2–6, free or connate, usually bifid but occasionally multifid, branches stigmatic and often twisted; placentation axile or rarely (Hillebrandia) parietal, placentae entire or lobed; ovules very numerous male flower: tepals 2–5, free or connate; stamens ?, filaments free or rarely connate; anthers 2-celled, continuous with the filament, opening lengthwise or rarely by apical pores; rudimentary gynoecium absent Flowers monoecious, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, in terminal or axillary cymes, conspicuous; sepals and petals usually not distinguished Leaves alternate, simple or very rarely pinnate, often asymmetric; stipules free, persistent or deciduous Herbs or subshrubs, usually fleshy female flowers: tepals ± as in male, rarely 6–9; staminodes absent or very small; ovary inferior, (1)2–4(6)-celled, usually angled or winged; styles 2–6, free or connate, usually bifid but occasionally multifid, branches stigmatic and often twisted; placentation axile or rarely (Hillebrandia) parietal, placentae entire or lobed; ovules very numerous male flower: tepals 2–5, free or connate; stamens ?, filaments free or rarely connate; anthers 2-celled, continuous with the filament, opening lengthwise or rarely by apical pores; rudimentary gynoecium absent Flowers monoecious, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, in terminal or axillary cymes, conspicuous; sepals and petals usually not distinguished Leaves alternate, simple or very rarely pinnate, often asymmetric; stipules free, persistent or deciduous Herbs or subshrubs, usually fleshy

Perennial succulent herbs, very rarely subshrubs. Stem erect, frequently rhizomatous, or plants tuberous and either acaulescent or shortly stemmed, rarely lianoid or climbing with adventitious roots, or stoloniferous. Leaves simple, rarely palmately compound, alternate or all basal, petiolate, stipules usually deciduous; blade often oblique and asymmetric, rarely symmetric, margin irregularly serrate and divided, occasionally entire, venation usually palmate. Flowers unisexual, plants monoecious, rarely dioecious, (1 or)2-4 to several, rarely numerous in dichotomous cyme, sometimes in panicles, with pedicel and bracts. Staminate flower: tepals 2 or 4 and decussate, usually outer ones larger, inner ones smaller; stamens usually numerous; filaments free or connate at base; anthers 2-celled, apical or lateral. Pistillate flower: tepals 2-5(-10), usually free, rarely connate at base; ovary nodding, pendulous, or ascending, 1-3-, rarely 4-8-loculed; placentae axile or parietal; styles 2 or 3(or more), free or fused at base, forked once or more; stigma turgid, spirally twisted-tortuous or U-shaped, capitate or reniform and setose-papillose. Capsule dry, sometimes berrylike, unequally or subequally 3-winged, rarely wingless and 3- or 4-horned; seeds very numerous, minute, oblong, testa pale brown, reticulate.