Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes parasitic or hemiparasitic. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, entire, simple, sometimes reduced to scales. Flowers small, greenish or white, bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic. Perianth of 1 whorl with 3-5 lobes. Stamens as many as perianth lobes. Ovary inferior or half-inferior, 1-locular. Stigma terminal, capitate or 5-lobed. Fruit indehiscent, dry or fleshy. Seed 1. Comment: According to APG III this family now includes the genera previously in Viscaceae. Worldwide: 43 genera and about 1000 species, ± cosmopolitan, especially tropical and warm dry zones. Zimbabwe: 4 genera and 35 taxa. |
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