English: Lindernia family.
Genera: 13; 195 species.
Clades:
Lamiales;
Lamiidae;
Asteranae;
Angiospermae;
Plants.
Genera: Amphiolanthus, Artanema, Bampsia, Bonnaya, Chamaegigas, Craterostigma, Crepidorhopalon, Hartliella, Hemiarrhena, Ilysanthes, Legazpia, Lindernia, Linderniella, Picria, Pierranthus, Schizotorenia, Scolophyllum, Stemodiopsis, Torenia, Vandellia.
Region: worldwide; Africa, Asia, Americas.
Habitat: tropical and subtropical; moist habitats, wetlands, marshes, riverbanks, damp fields; some are aquatic or semi-aquatic!.
Uses: ornamental, in aquatic or bog gardens; medicinal.
BotanyHerb; annuals to perennials; small to medium-sized!; creeping or prostrate, others are erect.
Root: fibrous roots.
Leaves: opposite; simple; ovate to lanceolate; some with smooth or slightly toothed margins; small and delicate!; without stipules.
Inflorescence: solitary, some in small clusters; from the leaf axils or terminal.
Flowers:
Corolla: tubular or funnel-shaped; zygomorphic; with five lobes; white to shades of blue, purple, or pink, sometimes with yellow or white markings.
Sepals: 5; fused at the base; often green.
Stamens: 4, sometimes 2; with two longer than the others = didynamous!.
Ovary: superior; 2 carpels.
Nectary: present.
Pollination: by insects, bees, butterflies.
Fruit: small; dry; capsule!; dehiscent.
Seeds: numerous; tiny; lightweight.
Dispersal: wind or water.
TaxonomyIn older classifications it used to be included within family
Scrophulariaceae, more recently in
Plantaginaceae. Several authors have demonstrated that this taxon should be segregated from those families, as
Linderniaceae. It has been recognized by Apg2 and Apg3.
Plant TheoryThere is little information about this family to place it in the
Plant theory.