Family Molluginaceae
Description: Scarcely succulent annual herbs or rarely shrubs.
Leaves often pseudoverticillate, opposite or spiral, stiples membraneous.
Flowers bisexual, either solitary or in cymes; perianth deeply 5-lobed.
Fruit a capsule with a persistent calyx; dehising by transverse slits; seeds reniform with or without an aril.
Distribution and occurrence: World 11 genera; c. 100 species Native of tropical, especially southern Africa, to warm temperate areas; often weedy. Australia, widespread. NSW 4 genera (1 genus naturalised).
External links:
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Molluginaceae, Order: Caryophyllales)
Wikipedia Formerly included in Aizoaceae. Macarthuria, previously listed here, is now included in its own family, Macarthuriaceae.
Text by Key updated by H. Sauquet (Oct 2020)
Taxon concept: APG IV (2016)
| | Key to the genera | |
| 1 | Seeds without a aril; stamens 3–5 | Mollugo |
| Seeds with a aril; stamens 3–20 | Glinus |
|
