General description:- Herbs, rarely dwarf shrubs.
Leaves:- Exstipulate, usually simple.
Flowers:- 5(to 7)-merous, actinomorphic (rarely zygomorphic), with united petals (sympetalous). Stamens united with the petals (epipetalous), opposite the corolla-lobes; staminodes sometimes present. Ovary 1-celled (1-locular), superior (rarely semi-inferior), with 1-numerous ovules and basal, free-central placenta; style simple.
Fruit:- A capsule.
ANAGALLIS
General description:- Glabrous herbs.
Leaves:- Opposite or alternate.
Flowers:- 5-merous, solitary, axillary, pedicellate or rarely subsessile. Corolla rotate or funnel-shaped (infundibuliform).
Fruit:- Capsule globose, opening by a slit running around the circumference (circumscissile). Seeds 6-45, papillose.
Key features:-
1) Flowers 5-merous.
2) Capsule circumscissile.
3) Leaves alternate.
ASTEROLINON
General description:- Annual.
Leaves:- Opposite.
Flowers:- 5-merous, solitary in the axils of the upper leaves. Corolla shorter than the calyx.
Fruit:- Capsule with 5 valves.
Key features:-
1) Flowers hypogynous.
2) Corolla shorter than the calyx.
3) Leaves opposite.
4) Capsule opening by valves.
CYCLAMEN
General description:- Perennial tuberous herbs.
Leaves:- Simple, heart-shaped (cordate), long-stalked (long-petiolate), hairless (glabrous), rather fleshy, usually blotched or marbled above and purple beneath.
Flowers:- Axillary, solitary, nodding; long-stemmed (pedicel long), usually coiling spirally in fruit. Calyx bell-shaped (campanulate), deeply 5-lobed. Corolla with a short, hemispherical basal tube and 5 lobes, the lobes at first contorted, later strongly deflexed. Anthers large, separated at the base but come together (but are not fused) distally (connivent) and forming a cone.
Fruit:- Capsule Globe-shape (globose) or broadly ovoid, splitting either irregularly or into 5 teeth. Seeds Large, sticky.
All the species occur in woods and thickets or on shaded, rocky hillsides, usually on limestone.
Key features:-
1) Leaves simple.
2) Corolla-lobes sharply deflexed.
3) Stock tuberous.
PRIMULACEAE
General description:- Herbs, rarely dwarf shrubs.
Leaves:- Without stipules (exstipulate), usually simple.
Flowers:- 5-7 united (sympetalous) petals (5-7merous), radially symmetrical (actinomorphic) (rarely irregular (zygomorphic)). Stamens united with the petals, (epipetalous), opposite the corolla-lobes; staminodes sometimes present. Ovary with 1 compartment (1-locular), superior (rarely semi-inferior), with 1-numerous ovules and basal, free-central placenta; style simple.
Fruit:- A capsule.
LYSIMACHIA
General description:- Erect or procumbent herbs, rarely dwarf shrubs.
Leaves:- Opposite, whorled or rarely alternate, margins entire or with rounded teeth (crenate).
Flowers:- 5(7)-merous, axillary, solitary or clustered, or in terminal bracteate panicles or racemes. Corolla rotate; lobes entire or dentate, often glandular within.
Fruit:- Capsule more or less globose, with 5(-7) valves. Seeds wrinkled (rugose), numerous.
Key features:-
1) Flowers yellow, in racemes.
2) Throat of corolla open, not constricted.
SAMOLUS
General description:- Perennial herbs with short stock and fibrous roots.
Flowers:- Bracteolate, 5-merous. Calyx bell-shaped (campanulate). Corolla twice as long as calyx. Stamens alternating with clusters of 1-2(-3) staminodes. Ovary semi-inferior.
Fruit:- Capsule globose; valves 5. Seeds numerous.
Key features:-
1) Flowers with calyx and corolla.
2) Flowers perigynous to epigynous.