Botany: 87 genera; ± 1500 species; tropical; South America, Africa,
Madagascar, Asia; placentation parietal; leaves without stipules.
DD: Nitrogen;
Magnesium;
Silver series;
Lanthanides.
Content: seco-iridoids, xanthones; alkaloids absent.
TaxonomyGentianaceae is a family in the
Gentianales in the
Apg3 classification.
In the
Plant theory Gentianaceae is placed in
Subphase 3.
BotanyHerbs, some shrubs and trees, glabrous.
Leaves: opposite, simple, entire; prominent midrib and few, basally divergent and curved secondary veins; no stipules.
Flowers: actinomorphic; bisexua; sepals fused, at least at the base; petals fused at least at the base, often very colorful and large, lobes contorted (twisted) to the right in bud; stamens inserted in the corolla tube (if you pull a stamen off, the petals come too; ovary superior, bicarpellate.
DD Apocynaceae:. have late, milky sap.DD Asclepidiaceae:. have late, milky sap.
DD Bignoniaceae,
Gesneriaceae,
Scrophulariaceae: fewer stamens than petals, flowers zygomorphic, leaves often hairy.
DD Gelsemiaceae: heterostylous flowers, 4-branched stigmas/styles.
DD Loganiaceae: petals lobes valvate or imbricate in bud, irregularly overlapping or not overlapping; hairs on the inside of the corollas.
DD Rubiaceae: inferior ovary; interpetiolar stipules.
DD Solanaceae: alternate leaves.