Nyctaginaceae
Caryophyllidae: Caryophyllales. The Nyctaginaceae are herbs, shrubs, and
trees comprising 30 genera and 300 species further characterized by the presence of
betalains and p-plastids. The leaves are simple, entire, estipulate, and usually opposite.
The flowers are usually bisexual, have a 3-8-lobed uniseriate perianth of connate,
petaloid sepals and are subtended by bracts that range in appearance from large and
brightly colored to reduced and calyx-like. The androecium consists of 1-30 hypogynous,
commonly unequal stamens that may be free or connate into a basal tube. The gynoecium is a
single simple pistil with a superior ovary containing one locule and one basal ovule. The
fruit is an achene that is often enveloped by the persistent base of the calyx tube.
Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.
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Mirabilis jalapa, four-o-clock. In this case the calyx is very
much like a corolla and the bracts subtending the flower closely mimic a calyx. |
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Bougainvillea spectabilis. Large woody vine, native to Brazil,
flowers are grouped in cymes of 3, and each flower has a brightly colored subtending
bract. |
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Boerhavia repens, alena. Dispersal of this native plant to
Hawaii by birds was aided by the stickiness of the persistent calyx tube on each of the
accessory fruits seen in the upper part of the photo. |
|
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Pisonia brunoniana, papala. Notice the uniseriate perianth. This
Hawaiian native species has very sticky fruits (lower photo) that were used by the
Hawaiians to capture birds so feathers could be collected for ornamentation. |
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Abronia villosa, sand verbena. Note the corolla-like nature of
the tubular calyx. |
Flowering Plant Family Access Page
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