SPHENOCLEACEAE
Morphological description
Erect herbs, usually stems succulent.
Leaves
Leaves simple, spiral, entire, penninerved, exstipulate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence a terminal spike.
Flowers
Flowers bisexual, 5-merous; ovary semi-inferior.
Fruit
Fruit a 2-locular capsule; seeds many.
Seed
Seeds many.
Different from: Phytolacca: ovary superior, fruit a berry. - Hydrolea: glandular hairy, ovary superior.
Distribution: The family consists of two species, one endemic to W Africa, the other widespread from Africa to Malesia, where it may not be native, and to America where it is certainly introduced.
Notes: The family is allied to Primulaceae and Phytolaccaceae and not with Campanulaceae where it was once placed. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.
Literature: H.K. Airy Shaw, Fl. Males. I, 4 (1948) 27-28.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Sphenoclea 92.
Illustrations: Fig. 167. Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn. (Sphenocleaceae). Reproduced from C.A. Backer, Weed Flora of Javanese Sugar-cane fields, Atlas pt 16 (1973) t. 693.
Image in PhytoImages for Sphenocleaceae