Description:

• Perennial climbers, supported by tendril-tipped leaves, sometimes dioecious
• Stems herbaceous, terete
• Leaves alternate; blades linear-lanceolate, apex an attenuate, spirally coiled tendril, closely ribbed; basal sheath tubular but slit to base surrounding stem, forming an auriculate constriction where joined to blade
• Flowers bisexual or unisexual, regular, small, in terminal panicles, side branches and branchlets patent and flexuose; bracts small, concave, auriculate
• Perianth of 6 free, petaloid, oblong, obtuse, persistent segments
• Stamens 6, hypogynous or slightly adnate to base of segments; filaments free, ultimately exserted; anthers 2-thecous, introrse, opening by longitudinal slits, early deciduous
• Ovary superior, 3-locular, with a single axile ovule in each locule; style 3-lobed, short or 0; stigmas terete, papillate
• Fruit a berry, 1-3-seeded
• x = 19

Nomenclature:

• Flagellariaceae
  • Brown: 15 (1897)
  • Ross: 115 (1972)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Genera 3, species ± 8, in warm regions of the Old World
• Southern Africa: Genus 1, species 1

References:

• BROWN, N.E. 1897. Flagellariaceae. Flora capensis 7
• ROSS, J.H. 1972. Flagellariaceae. Flora of Natal. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 39

Resources:

• Flagellariaceae genus: Flagellaria