Family Stylidiaceae
Description: Herbs or small shrubs.
Leaves scattered along stems, in whorl-like tufts or in basal rosettes; stipules absent.
Inflorescences terminal, racemes, thryrsoid or corymbose panicles, rarely reduced to spikes or to solitary flowers. Flowers usually zygomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous, floral parts epigynous. Calyx 5-lobed, all free or ± united in 2 lips. Corolla shortly tubular, 5-lobed, imbricate in bud, the lowest lobe usually smallest and called the labellum. Stamens 2, fused to the style forming a column (or gynostemium); anther loculi finely divaricate and exposing the stigma between them; stigma entire or 2-lobed, concealed between the anthers or protruding from them. Ovary inferior, incompletely 2-locular, ovules numerous per loculus; placentas axile or free-central.
Fruit a 2-valved capsule; seeds numerous.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 6 genera, c. 150 species, Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia, Chile. Australia: 4 genera, c. 120 species, all States but mainly temperate W.A.
External links:
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Stylidiaceae, Order: Asterales)
Wikipedia
Text by L. C. Stanberg
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the genera | |
| 1 | Column almost erect, not sensitive, and covered by a sensitive hood-like labellum | Levenhookia |
| Column bent and with a trigger-like action when touched | Stylidium |
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