Haemodoraceae

views updated

Haemodoraceae A family of tropical and warm temperate herbs that have fibrous roots, tubers, rhizomes or stolons. Leaves are linear with sheathing bases. Bisexual flowers are borne in racemes, cymes, or panicles, and are often covered with woolly hair. The perianth is persistent. The ovary is superior or inferior, and trilocular. The fruit is a capsule; there is a small embryo and a good-sized endosperm in the seeds. Several species of Angiosanthos are cultivated. There are 16 genera, with 85 species, found in Australia, S. Africa, tropical and N. America.

More From encyclopedia.com