Nyctaginaceae
Links to Genus Directory of Images:
Nyctaginaceae |
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Links to Genus Directory of Images: |
Distribution: Pantropical
and more common in the New World, with some species in temperate
regions.
Economic Uses: As ornamentals;
especially Bougainvillea and Mirabilis.
Defining
Features of Interest: The flowers of
some genera open in the late afternoon, giving the common name;
'the four 'o clock' family.
Fossil Evidence: No known
fossil record.
Floral Features : Actinomorphic (rarely zygomorphic) and perfect or unisexual. Small to medium flowers borne on cymes or headlike with a colorful involucre. Hypogynous. Sepals petal-like and tubular, petals lacking. Bracts are present.
Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit an achene or nut and often enclosed by the calyx. Seed with embryo curved or straight and endosperm present or absent. Placentation is basal.
Vegetative Features
: As herbs, shrubs or trees. Leaves simple, alternate or opposite.
Stipules lacking.
