Polygonaceae

Annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or vines (rarely trees). Leaves mostly alternate, rarely opposite or whorled, simple and usually entire; stipules usually well-developed and fused into a hyaline sheath (ochrea) around the stem. Inflorescence a contracted or elongate raceme or panicle, each branch and flower usually subtended by a small ochrea-like sheath (ochreola). Flowers bisexual or unisexual (then plants usually dioecious); pedicel usually articulate some distance below perianth; perianth segments 2–6, shortly fused at base, green or coloured and petaloid, in 1 or 2 whorls, sometimes apparently spiralled; stamens 2–9 (rarely more); ovary superior, 2–4(usually 3)-carpellate, unilocular; styles usually 3 (as many as carpels), free or fused near base. Fruit an achene or small nut, often trigonous, falling enclosed by the persistent perianth, usually with part of pedicel remaining attached.