Genera              100    

Species  2000 in our area 55 (Gray); 45 (B&B)⁴³

Distribution tropical and temperate, habitats renging from arid deserts to tropical forests.

Flowers Perfect borne on one-sided clusters.

#Parts    5 fused sepals, 5 fused petals, 5 stamens   Symmetry radial

Leaves Hairy texture on the leaves is distinctive, they are simple alternate, entire leaves normally without stalks.