Peganum L.

Herbs, perennial, erect, pubescent or glabrous; root-stock woody. Leaves alternate, simple, irregularly multifid; stipules setaceous. Flowers white to yellow, solitary, terminal or on subterminal leaf-opposed peduncles. Sepals 4 - 5, free, foliaceous, entire or pinnatifid, persistent. Petals 4 - 5, subequal, free. Disk small, annular or angular. Stamens 12 - 15, filaments dilated at base; anthers linear-oblong. Ovary globose, sulcate, 3 - 4-locular; ovules many in each locule; style simple, 2 - 3-keeled above; keels stigmatose. Capsules globose, loculicidally dehiscent, rarely indehiscent; seeds angular, testa spongy; endosperm fleshy; embryo curved.

About 6 species distributed from Mangolia to N. Africa, S. Europe, tropical America and Australia. One species in India.

List of Lower Taxa