Herbs, annual. Leaves opposite or appearing whorled. Inflorescences axillary, compound dichasia, appearing umbelliform. Flowers: sepals 5; stamens 5; carpels 5, free; ovaries 5, each 1-loculed; style and stigma 1 per carpel; stigma terminal. Fruits: group of thin-walled, lenticular achenes. Seed 1 per carpel.

Distribution

North America, Eurasia, Africa.

Discussion

Species ca. 5 (1 in the flora).

Described as “debatably phytolaccaceous” by G. K. Rogers (1985), Gisekia has been referred also to Aizoaceae, Molluginaceae, and even Portulacaceae—and, perhaps the best solution, to its own family, Gisekiaceae.

The generic name is sometimes misspelled as “Giesekia.”

Selected References

Bogle, A. L. 1970b. The genera of Molluginaceae and Aizoaceae in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 51: 431–462.

Gilbert, M. G. 1993. A review of Gisekia (Gisekiaceae). Kew Bull. 48: 343–356.

Godfrey, R. K. 1961. Gisekia pharnacioides, a new weed. Rhodora 63: 226–228.

Narayana, P. S. and L. L. Narayana. 1988. Systematic position of Gisekia Linnaeus—a numerical assessment. Feddes Repert. 99: 189–193.

Narayana, L. L. and P. S. Narayana. 1989. The bearing of amino acids on the status and systematic position of Gisekia Linnaeus. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 13: 699–704.

Lower Taxa

Gisekia pharnacioides