PEDALIACEAE
Morphological description
Herbs, plants glandular hairy.
Leaves
Leaves usually opposite, strong smelling; exstipulate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, calyx 5 partite, corolla 5-lobed, disk present, ovary superior.
Fruit
Fruit sometimes spiny (Josephinia). Sometimes fruit with claw-like hooks (Martynia*).
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Labiatae: stem quadrangular, ovary 4-partite, not glandular hairy. - Scrophulariaceae: not glandular hairy.
Distribution: The family widespread, best represented in Africa. In Malesia 3 genera of which only Josephinia native.
Notes: Seeds of Sesamum* produce cooking oil and are used for flavouring cakes.
Literature: C. A. Backer, Fl. Males. I, 4 (1951) 216-221.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Josephinia 95 - Martynia 95 - Sesamum 49; S. indicum 48.
Illustrations: Fig. 136. Josephinia imperatricis Vent. (Pedaliaceae). Stem with flowers and fruits. Reproduced from Flora Malesiana I, 4 (1951) 219, fig. 1.
Image in PhytoImages for Pedaliaceae