Diapensiaceae Lindl.

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, evergreen, rhizomatous and/or stems creeping and adventitiously rooted, sometimes taprooted, ecto-and endotrophically mycorrhizal. Stems erect to decumbent or prostrate. Leaves basal and cauline, alternate or opposite, simple; stipules absent; petiole present or absent; blade margins entire or dentate-serrate. Inflorescences terminal racemes or solitary flowers. Flowers bisexual; perianth and androecium hypogynous; sepals 5, connate proximally or distinct; petals 5, connate proximally or distinct; stamens 5, antisepalous or basally connate into ring, epipetalous, alternating with staminodes; anthers transversely or longitudinally dehiscent; staminodes absent or 5, scalelike or spatulate; pistils 1, 3-carpellate; ovary superior, 3-locular; placentation axile; ovules usually anatropous, sometimes axile, hemitropous, campylotropous, or amphitropous, bitegmic, tenuinucellate; styles 1, terminal; stigmas 1, slightly 3-lobed to unlobed and capitate [disciform]. Fruits capsular, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 10-30, brown, cylindric; embryo straight to curved; endosperm copious, fleshy.