Dasypogonaceae

Abstract

Low to tall perennials, shrubby or arborescent, with condensed to tall stem, the stem sometimes (Kingia) with a cover of aerial roots penetrating the persistent leaf bases; leaves spirally inserted, dorsiventral, more or less V- or U-shaped in transection. Inflorescences solitary or fasciculated globular heads on bracteate peduncles, or flowers solitary and subtended by scarious bracts; flowers hermaphrodite; perianth indurated, persistent; tepals variously free or united, the 2 whorls similar, cream white, reddish brown or purple to blue. Stamens 6; usually attached to base of tepals; anthers tetrasporangiate, basifixed or rarely dorsifixed, dehiscing introrsely or rarely extrorsely by slits or 2 pores. Ovary syncarpous, 3-locular, each locule with 1 ovule arising from axile placenta, or (Calectasia) 1-locular with 3 basally attached ovules; style single, with capitate or 3-lobed stigma; ovules anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellar; fruit indehiscent, enclosed in persistent perianth, or rarely capsular and explosively dehiscent (Baxteria); seeds subspherical with pale yellow testa, enclosed inside ovary and perianth parts; endosperm copious, without starch; embryo broad, resticted to the lower part of the seed.