NYCTAGINACEAE
Morphological description
Sometimes spiny stem (Bougainvillea*, Pisonia aculeata).
Leaves
Leaves simple, entire, usually (sub)opposite; exstipulate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flower usually bisexual; actinomorphic, perianth tubular, undifferentiated; ovary superior, 1-celled, 1 erect ovule,
Fruit
Fruit anthocarp in fruit usually persistent, often viscid.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Rubiaceae: stipules, flowers with calyx and corolla, ovary inferior. — Verbenaceae: flowers with calyx and corolla.
Distribution: Pantropical, best represented in South America. In Malesia 2 native genera: - Boerhavia (pantropical), herbs, often weedy; - Pisonia (pantropical), shrubs, trees, rarely climbers, rain forest and open places.
Notes: Ornamentals: Bougainvillea*, Mirabilis*, Pisonia. — Edible leaves: Pisonia grandis. — The fruits of some Pisonia spp. are so sticky that birds may get completely covered by them.
Literature: J.F. Stemmerik, Fl. Males. I, 6 (1964) 450-468.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Nyctaginaceae 84 - Boerhavia 99 - Bougainvillea 4, 63 - Mirabilis 16 - Pisonia 22, 46, 54, 70; P. aculeata 4, 12; P. umbelliflora.
Illustrations: Fig. 120. Pisonia cauliflora Scheff.: a. habit; b. inflorescence; c. flower; d. fruits.
Image in PhytoImages for Nyctaginaceae