PENTASTEMONACEAE
NB Now regarded as part of the Stemonaceae
Morphological description
Succulent herbs, usually forming bulbils.
Leaves
Leaves simple, spiral, entire, with arching nerves.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence racemose.
Flowers
Flowers bisexual, 5-merous, tepals 5, stamens 5 epitepalous; ovary inferior.
Fruit
Fruit.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Pentaphragmaceae: inflorescence scorpioid. - Stemonaceae: flowers 3-merous, ovary superior.
Distribution: One of the few endemic families of Malesia. The only genus Pentastemona is represented with two species in Sumatra.
Notes: The only monocot family with 5-merous flowers.
Literature: Lit.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Pentastemona 13, 92, 99.
Illustrations: Fig. 138. Pentastemona sumatrana Steenis (Pentastemonaceae). Habit; enlarged flower and ribbed seed. Reproduced from Flora Malesiana I, 11 (1993) 394, fig. 1a, c, e.
Image in PhytoImages for Stemonaceae