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Pet obovate, the 2 upper often differing in size from the 3 lower; outer series of stamens sterile or reduced to scales, the inner series with normal anthers; fr differing from Geranium in that the carpel-beaks separate completely from the stylar column (usually from the top downwards) each such beak typically remaining attached to the basally sharp-pointed carpel-body as a terminal awn, the lower part of which coils hygroscopically; seed smooth, retained within the carpel-body; small herbs with basal or alternate, serrate to more often pinnately divided or dissected lvs and umbel-like cymes of small, pink to purple fls. 75, mostly Mediterranean reg. and Middle East.
Herbs, annual, biennial, or perennial. Leaves simple, petiolate; leaf blade usually pinnately divided, sometimes entire; basal leaves usually forming a rosette; cauline leaves opposite or alternate. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, cymose, bracteate. Flowers usually in pseudoumbels, actinomorphic, rarely somewhat zygomorphic. Sepals 5, imbricate, apex obtuse to caudate. Petals 5, distinct. Stamens 5, alternating with 5 staminodes. Nectaries 5, alternate with petals. Ovary 5-locular, with 2 superposed ovules per locule; style distinctly 5-cleft. Fruit a schizocarp, long beaked, splitting into 5 1-seeded mericarps with a spirally twisted and trichome-covered awn.
