Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Rhizomatous perennial or rarely annual herbs.

Stems: Stems rounded or sometimes somewhat flattened.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Leaves cauline or primarily basal, glabrous, blades flat or grooved on upper surface, or terete (cylindrical) and hollow, or laterally compressed. Blades sword–shaped, septate, or absent. Sheaths open or rarely closed. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in open or very dense cymes, these racemose, paniculate, or glomerulate, or sometimes solitary. Flowers usually bisexual (perfect). Perianth parts green to yellowish brown or dark brown, +/- subtended by clasping bracteoles. Stamens usually 3 or 6; anthers persistent, linear. Pollen grains remaining in tetrads, surrounded by a common exine. Ovary superior, carpels 1, locules 1 or 3; placentas 1 and basal or 3 and axile or parietal; stigmas generally longer than styles.

Fruit: Capsules 1–3-celled. Seeds 15–120 per capsule.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range: