Plumbaginaceae
Shrubs , shrublet s, or herbs . Stem s striate , sometimes reduced to a caud ex. Le ave s simple, al tern ate or b asal; stipu les abs ent; leaf b lade ent ire or rar ely pinnatel y lobed , wit h chalk gla nds on both surfac es. Infloresc ences term inal or axillar y, spic ate, spicate-racemose, subcapitate, ca pitate, or pan iculate, arrang ed into complan ate spikes if bran ched, all composed of 1–10 or mo re cymules or hel icoid c ymes (kno wn as spikele ts) each 1–5-flower ed; br acts 1 at b ase of e ach spik elet; br act lets 1 or 2 at b ase o f ea ch flower. Flowers bisexual, actino morphic, hypog ynous, sessile or ver y shor t p edicellate . Caly x persistent, tubular to funnelfor m, 5-ribbed, 5-lobed. Corolla p etals connate but sometimes only at base; lobes or seg ments 5, tw isted. Stamens opposite coro lla lo bes , hypog ynous o r inserted at corolla b ase; an thers 2-locular, deh iscing long itudin ally . Pistil 1. Ovar y sup erior , 1-locular; ovule s 1, pendulous from a basal fun icle. Sty les 5, free or connate; stigmas 5. Capsule usua lly enclosed within caly x. Seed 1 per capsule ; embr yo str aight, surrounded b y th in star chy endosperm.
Worldwide, main diversity in Asia and Mediterranean region.