Herbs, lactiferous, perennial (often with rhizomes or caudices), less often annual, [or shrubs or trees outside of China]. Leaves estipulate, alternate (rarely opposite or whorled), simple, entire or variously toothed or dissected, petiolate or sessile. Flowers tetracyclic, perfect, with a specialized method of proterandrous secondary pollen presentation, resupinate in Lobelioideae, solitary in an axillary or less often terminal position, or aggregated into terminal or axillary inflorescences that appear racemose or paniculate (rarely capitate), pedicellate or rarely sessile; bracts leaflike or reduced, rarely absent; pedicels often bracteolate. Calyx synsepalous, adnate to ovary and forming a hypanthium (free in Cyananthus); lobes (3-)5(-10), valvate, sometimes with a reflexed appendage in each sinus, in some Codonopsis, inserted well below rim of hypanthium. Corolla sympetalous, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, most often some shade of blue or violet, or white; lobes (4 or)5(-10), valvate. Stamens equaling number of corolla lobes, antisepalous, distinct, coherent, or connate; anthers tetrasporangiate, dithecal, introrsely dehiscent by longitudinal slits, basifixed. Gynoecium syncarpous, 2-5(-10)-locular with axile placentation, [rarely 1-locular with parietal, basal, or apical placentation outside of China]; ovary at least partly inferior (superior in Cyananthus), sometimes crowned by an annular or tubular nectary; style solitary, pubescent with pollen-collecting hairs below apex; stigma typically with as many lobes as ovary locules. Fruit a capsule, commonly apically loculicidal or laterally poricidal, or a berry. Seeds usually small, numerous; embryo small, straight; endosperm copious, oily or rarely starchy.
Ovary inferior or rarely superior, 2-10-celled, with axile placentas
Stamens as many as the corolla-lobes and alternate with them, inserted towards the base of the corolla or the disk; anthers free, 2-celled, opening lengthwise
Corolla gamopetalous, tubular or campanulate, lobes valvate
Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary, 3-10-lobed
Flowers hermaphrodite, actinomorphic
Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, simple; stipules absent
Herbs to small trees, nearly always with milky juice
Calyx –{_ adnate to the ovary; lobes usually free, persistent, valvate in bud
Flowers hermaphrodite, usually protandrous, regular, (3–) 5(–10)–merous, mostly with a bract and 2 bracteoles
Stamens alternating with the corolla–lobes, free or rarely adnate to the corolla; anthers very rarely entirely or partly connate, introrse; filaments usually dilated at the base
Petals connate to various degrees, sometimes almost free, valvate in bud
Annual or perennial herbs, subshrubs, or rarely small shrubs, laticiferous
Inflorescences generally cymose, panicle–, raceme–, spike– or head–like, or flowers solitary
Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, simple, entire, dentate to incised or rarely variously lobed, exstipulate
Fruit capsular, variously dehiscing by apical or lateral valves or pores, or 4; baccate
Seeds 1–many, albuminous; embryo straight, terete
Ovary ± inferior, rarely superior, 2–10–locular; ovules few–many, anatropous, on axile placentas; style 1, furnished with pollen–collecting hairs on and usually below the style–lobes
Inflorescences generally cymose, panicle-, raceme-, spike- or head-like, or flowers solitary
Annual or perennial herbs, subshrubs, or rarely small shrubs, laticiferous
Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, simple, entire, dentate to incised or rarely variously lobed, exstipulate
Petals connate to various degrees, sometimes almost free, valvate in bud
Stamens alternating with the corolla-lobes, free or rarely adnate to the corolla; anthers very rarely entirely or partly connate, introrse; filaments usually dilated at the base
Ovary ± inferior, rarely superior, 2–10-locular; ovules few-many, anatropous, on axile placentas; style 1, furnished with pollen-collecting hairs on and usually below the style-lobes
Fruit capsular, variously dehiscing by apical or lateral valves or pores, or ± baccate
Flowers bisexual, usually protandrous, regular, (3–)5(–10)-merous, mostly with a bract and 2 bracteoles
Calyx ± adnate to the ovary; lobes usually free, persistent, valvate
Seeds 1-many, albuminous; embryo straight, terete
Plantes'herbacées annuelles ou vivaces, sous-arbustes, rarement petits arbustes, contenant du latex.'Feuilles'alternes, rarement opposées, simples, entières, dentées à découpées ou rarement diversement lobées, non stipulées.'Inflorescences'généralement cymeuses, en forme de panicule, de racème, d'épi ou de capitule, ou fleurs solitaires.'Fleurs'bisexuées, généralement protrandres, (3-)5(-10)-mères, actinomorphes, le plus souvent pourvues d'une bractée et de 2 bractéoles; calice ± adné à l'ovaire, à lobes généralement libres, persistants et valvaires; pétales soudés entre eux sur une longueur variable, parfois presque entièrement libres, à préfloraison valvaire; étamines alternant avec les lobes de la corolle, libres ou rarement adnées à la corolle; étamines à filet généralement élargi à la base; anthères libres ou très rarement partiellement ou entièrement soudées, introrses; ovaire ± infère, rarement supère, 2-10-loculaire; style 1, pourvu de poils collecteurs de pollen sur les lobes et généralement en dessous de ceux-ci; ovules peu nombreux à nombreux, anatropes; placentation axile.'Fruits'capsulaires, à déhiscence variable par valves ou par pores apicaux ou latéraux, indéhiscents, ou fruits ± bacciformes.'Graines 1 à nombreuses, albuminées; embryon droit et cylindrique.\n\t\t\tFamille comprenant environ 35 genres et 700 espèces, spécialement bien représentée dans la région méditerranéenne et en Afrique australe, mais à développement plus restreint dans les régions tropicales. Pour la Flore : 4 genres, 27 espèces dont une imparfaitement connue, et 5 sous-espèces dont une imparfaitement connue.
About 35 genera and some 700 species, especially well represented in the Mediterranean region and S. Africa, but relatively sparsely developed in the tropics
