Herbs or subshrubs, perennial, slightly woody at base. Leaves alternate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, virgate, spikelike racemes, 8–30-flowered. Flowers: sepals 4; stamens 4–8; carpels 1; ovary 1-loculed; style absent; stigma 1. Fruits achenes, elongate-cuneate, apically 2-lobed, each lobe tipped with 1–3 sharply reflexed spines 3–5 mm. Seed 1.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Species 1.

Selected References

Holm, T. 1915. Medicinal plants of North America. 95. Petiveria alliacea Linnaeus. Merck’s Rep. 24: 266–270.

Ormond, W. T. and M. C. B. Pinheiro. 1974. Contribuição ao estudo biosistemático e ecológico de Petiveria alliacea L. Revista Brasil. Biol. 34: 123–142.

Ormond, W. T. and M. C. B. Pinheiro. 1975. Um elemento a mais para o esclarecimento taxonômico de Petiveria alliacea Linnaeus: Número de cromossomos. Revista Brasil. Biol. 35: 39–44.

Lower Taxa

Petiveria alliacea