Birthwort Family

Parasitic fungus-like plants without chlorophyll with a fleshy underground rhizome. Leaves 0. Flowers solitary, bisexual, actinomorphic, borne on the rhizome, smelling of carrion. Calyx 3-4(-5)-lobed, fleshy, united below. Petals 0. Stamens alternating with calyx lobes; anthers large with numerous thecae. Ovary inferior, 1-locular. Stigma button-like, crowning the ovary. Fruit a large thick-walled fleshy berry. Seeds minute, numerous.

Herbs, climbers, rarely shrubs. Stipules 0 but stipule-like leaves may be present in the leaf axils. Leaves alternate, often palmately-veined, simple, entire or 3-5-lobed. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, solitary or arranged in racemes or cymes. Calyx petaloid, usually enlarged with a basal tube; apical limb 1-3-lobed. Petals 0. Stamens 6-10 or many. Ovary inferior, 3-6-locular. Style with 3-6 stigmas. Fruit usually a many-seeded capsule. Seeds sometimes winged.