Description: Climbers with solid bamboo-like stems rising from a rhizome.
Leaves alternate along stems; lamina elongate and with numerous longitudinal veins, apex extended into a coiled tendril; base sheathing and surrounding stem, closed.
nflorescence a many-flowered terminal panicle; flowers bracteate, ± sessile and borne separately. Flowers actinomorphic, 3-merous, mostly bisexual. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls with inner tepals longest. Stamens usually 6 in 2 whorls, sometimes some reduced to staminodes; filaments free; anthers 2-locular, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 3-locular; ovule 1 per loculus; stigma sessile, minutely 3-lobed.
Fruit a drupe; seed 1 or rarely 2.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 4 ssp., trop. Africa, SE Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands. Australia: 1 genus, 1 species (native).
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Flagellaria indica |
|
