Diapensiaceae

views updated

Diapensiaceae A family of plants, most of which are cushion-forming (see CUSHION PLANT), evergreen undershrubs, but a few of which are herbs. The calyx and corolla are deeply 5-lobed, there are 5 stamens alternating with the corolla lobes, and the ovary is 3-celled and lobed and ripens to a capsule. There are 5 genera, with 13 species, found in Arctic and northern alpine regions.