The World Flora Online

Corolla gamopetalous, often curved; limb oblique or 2-lipped, lobes 5, imbricate, the adaxial 2 interior Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted below the middle of the corolla-tube, alternate with the lobes, the fifth (adaxial) one reduced to a staminode or absent; anthers often connivent in pairs, opening lengthwise Ovary superior, 1-celled, with 4 parietal placentas; style terminal; ovules numerous Capsule often enveloped by the calyx, opening by 2 valves Seeds very numerous, small, with fleshy endosperm and minute embryo Calyx 4-5-toothed or lobed or variously split, lobes open or valvate Flowers solitary in the axils of bracts, often crowded, hermaphrodite, zygomorphic Herbs, parasitic on roots, often covered with scales at the base, never green; stems with alternate, often crowded, scales Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted below the middle of the corolla-tube, alternate with the lobes, the fifth (adaxial) one reduced to a staminode or absent; anthers often connivent in pairs, opening lengthwise Ovary superior, 1-celled, with 4 parietal placentas; style terminal; ovules numerous Capsule often enveloped by the calyx, opening by 2 valves Seeds very numerous, small, with fleshy endosperm and minute embryo Calyx 4-5-toothed or lobed or variously split, lobes open or valvate Flowers solitary in the axils of bracts, often crowded, hermaphrodite, zygomorphic Herbs, parasitic on roots, often covered with scales at the base, never green; stems with alternate, often crowded, scales

Root-parasitic herbs without chlorophyll; fls hypogynous, sympetalous, irregular, perfect (except Epifagus); cal 2–5-lobed or toothed, persistent; cor bilabiate, withering persistent, (4–) 5-lobed; stamens 4, paired, borne on the cor-tube alternate with the lobes, the fifth (upper) one staminodial or wanting; ovary superior, unilocular, with (2)4(6) intruded parietal placentas; style terminal, with a capitate or crateriform or lobed stigma; capsule 2-valved, many-seeded; embryo minute, undifferentiated, embedded in the oily endosperm; small, often fleshy, yellowish or brownish plants, the lvs reduced to scales. 17/150.

Herbs annual, biennial, or perennial parasites, without chlorophyll. Stems unbranched or sometimes branched. Leaves scalelike, spirally or subimbricately arranged. Inflorescences racemose, spicate, or subcapitate, rarely 1-flowered; bract 1, usually similar to leaves; bractlets 2, adnate to base of calyx or pedicel. Flowers bisexual, subsessile or pedicelled. Calyx tubular, cupular, or campanulate, (3 or)4-6-lobed, 2-6-parted, 6-toothed, or spathelike, sometimes absent or of 3 free sepals. Corolla bilabiate, usually curved, sometimes tubular-campanulate or funnelform with 5 subequal lobes; upper lip entire, emarginate, or 2-lobed; lower lip 3-lobed. Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted at base of corolla tube; filaments slender; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally, sometimes 1 cell fertile and another sterile or reduced to spur. Pistil 2- or 3-carpellate; ovary superior; placentas 2-4 or 6(-10), parietal or sometimes axile at ovary base; ovules 2-4 or numerous, anatropous. Style long; stigma inflated, discoid, peltate, or 2-4-lobed. Capsule usually dehiscing loculicidally by 2 or 3(or 4) valves. Seeds minute, testa pitted or reticulate.

Stamens didynamous, inserted at or below the middle of the corolla tube; filaments filiform, glabrous to glandular hairy; anther cells in pairs, attached to the filament dorsally, longitudinally dehiscent, glabrous to densely lanate Corolla hypogynous, gamopetalous, tubular, limbate, sometimes funnel-shaped above, curved throughout or in part Calyx hypogynous, persistent, tubular (long-sided) or campanulate (short-sided), sessile or stalked, 2–5-lobed or -toothed, gamosepalous or split dorsally and ventrally into two free sections Flowers hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, subtended by scale-like bracts with or without bracteoles Capsule usually bivalved, ovoid-ellipsoid or ovoid-spheroid, loculicidally dehiscent; seeds small, numerous, obscurely rounded Ovary superior, unilocular, bi- (rarely tri-) carpellary; placentas 4, parietal, separate to partially fused; style bilobed, peltate, orbicular or funnel-shaped Stems erect, scaly, sometimes fleshy, simple or branched, glabrous to glandular-hairy Inflorescence in East African species a cylindrical spike or spiciform raceme Leafless, scapigerous, parasitic herbs subsisting by attachment to roots of other plants; variously and sometimes beautifully coloured, but without chlorophyll thus never green Corolla hypogynous, gamopetalous, tubular, limbate, sometimes funnel-shaped above, curved throughout or in part Calyx hypogynous, persistent, tubular (long-sided) or campanulate (short-sided), sessile or stalked, 2–5-lobed or -toothed, gamosepalous or split dorsally and ventrally into two free sections Flowers hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, subtended by scale-like bracts with or without bracteoles Capsule usually bivalved, ovoid-ellipsoid or ovoid-spheroid, loculicidally dehiscent; seeds small, numerous, obscurely rounded Ovary superior, unilocular, bi- (rarely tri-) carpellary; placentas 4, parietal, separate to partially fused; style bilobed, peltate, orbicular or funnel-shaped Stems erect, scaly, sometimes fleshy, simple or branched, glabrous to glandular-hairy Inflorescence in East African species a cylindrical spike or spiciform raceme Leafless, scapigerous, parasitic herbs subsisting by attachment to roots of other plants; variously and sometimes beautifully coloured, but without chlorophyll thus never green