Hydrophyllaceae

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Genera : 18

Species: 250

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Economic Uses: Ornamentals

Defining Features of Interest: Leaves usually hairy or glandular.

Fossil Evidence:

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Flowers are bisexual and actinomorphic. K with or without auricles between lobes. C fused at the base; A often with a pair of appendages at base of filament to protect the nectaries, and alternate with C lobes. G superior and parietal placentation. Inflorescences are cymes or cincinni, rarely solitary.

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds are many, with straight, spatulate or sometimes linear embryo and fleshy oily endosperm.

Vegetative Features : Habit is herbs and small shrubs, sometimes pachycaul (Wigandia). Leaves spirally arranged (rarely opposite) simple to pinnate (rarely palmate); no stipules.