Herbs, annual. Roots without terminal tubers. Rhizomes slender, short. Leaves erect, terete, with aerenchyma tissue; sheath with ligule free. Inflorescences both scapose and sessile; spikelike racemes or solitary flowers; scapes shorter than leaves, terminated by spikes; spikes racemes with pistillate flowers near base, bisexual medially, staminate proximally; sessile inflorescences 2 or more, with solitary flowers pistillate flower only, 2 or more, sessile. Flowers bisexual and unisexual, to 5 types, sessile; tepals 0–1, green, linear; stamens 0–1; anthers sessile; pistils 1; ovules 1. Bisexual and staminate flowers: tepal present. Pistillate flowers: tepal present, style 0.5–2 mm or tepal absent, style 0.2–30 cm. Fruits nutlets, angular, beaked.

Distribution

North America, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Species 1.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Lilaea scilloides