Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Ochreae present. Inflorescences terminal and axillary racemes or panicles with whorled flowers. Flowers bisexual or unisexual. Perianth segments in two whorls of 3, the outer always small and thin. Inner perianth segments enlarging and usually becoming hard in fruit, with or without swollen corky tubercles on their midribs. Nuts triquetrous, enclosed within the inner perianth segments. Worldwide: 200 species in temperate areas, especially northern temperate Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon. Insects associated with this genus: |
No image of a cultivated species but there is an image of a native or naturalised species |