Herreriaceae

Abstract

Perennials with branching stems, sometimes twining, from tuberous rhizomes, or stemless rosette plants from an erect rhizome; roots fibrous. Aerial stems, if present, leafy, thin, spiny, branching, climbing, to about 5 m tall, or absent. Leaves alternate, spirally arranged, fascicled, cladode-like, ovate-lanceolate to linear with numerous parallel main veins and between them parallel secondary veins, non-sheathing. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme or few branched panicles. Flowers bisexual, numerous, erect, actinomorphic, hypogynous; tepals in 2 whorls of 3, both whorls of similar length, with basal nectaries (Herreriopsis), red, yellow, brown or pale green, but never blue. Stamens 3 + 3; filaments free; anthers basifixed, introrse, dehiscing longitudinally. Gynoecium of 3 united carpels; ovary 3-locular with axile, intrusive placentae and septal nectaries (Herreria); style single, erect short to filiform; stigma capitate, trilobed; ovules anatropous, borne in 2 rows. Fruit a trilobed, septicidal capsule; seeds few to many, flattened and winged, black, with a phytomelan crust; endosperm copious, lacking starch; embryo small, linear and straight.