Illecebraceae
Fls small, us. with scarious bracts, us. perfect, regular; calyx 4-5-lobed; petals 0; stamens as many as and opp. calyx-lobes; anther-filaments free or connate at base. Ovary 1-celled, ovules 1-(2), styles 1-2-3. Fr. an utricle, ind., nutlike, covered by persistent calyx. Mostly herbs with entire, opp., simple lvs with scarious stipules. About 8 widespread genera and 90 spp.
The members of the Caryophyllaceae having ind. frs are often segregated as a family, Illecebraceae, Scleranthus being a N.Z. representative. Hutchinson (Fam. Fl. Plants 1, 1926, 130) does so, and places the family in the Polygonales. Hectorella also has ind. frs and its best disposition is not quite certain. To accept the family Illecebraceae would logically involve further segregation from the Caryophyllaceae. It seems best, meantime, to follow the treatment of both genera by Pax and Hoffman in Pflanzenfam. 16C, 1934, 296.
