POLYGONACEAE
Morphological description
Usually herbaceous. Stem with swollen nodes. Treelet, leaves sessile, broader than long (Coccoloba*); shrub/ climber, twigs flat (Muehlenbeckia platyclada)
Leaves
Leaves usually spiral, simple, entire, venation pinnate. Usually petiole with sheath and ocrea. Sometimes leaves sessile, broader than long (Coccoloba*).
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flowers small, disk present, ovary superior, 1-locular, 1 basal ovule. Usually flowers bisexual.
Fruit
Fruit usually trigonal or flat nutlets often with persistent tepals.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Commelinaceae: ovary 2- or 3-locular, ovules numerous.
Distribution: The family worldwide; in Malesia 7 genera of which 3 with native species, including: - Muehlenbeckia, climbers, mostly in montane habitats in E Malesia. - Polygonum (incl. Persicaria), many species mostly in disturbed and wet habitats.
Notes: Some planted as ornamentals: Antigonon*, Coccoloba*, Muehlenbeckia (Homalocladium). - Edible plants: some Polygonum, Rheum.
Literature: .H. Danser, Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg III, 8 (1927) 117-261.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Polygonaceae 16, 33, 79, 83 - Antigonon 4, 80 - Muehlenbeckia 5 - Polygonum 31, 37, 93; P. perforatum.
Illustrations: Fig. 147. Polygonum chinense L. (Polygonaceae). Reproduced from C.A. Backer & D.F. van Slooten, Geïllustreerd Handboek der Javaansche Theeonkruiden (1924).
Image in PhytoImages for Polygonaceae