Flagellariaceae Dumort.

Perennial lianas with sympodial rhizomes; glabrous. Culm usually round, rarely lenticular (not in Australia) in cross-section, solid. Leaves alternate, distichous, distributed along culm, circinately rolled in bud; sheath closed, without ligule; shortly petiolate; lamina somewhat grass-like, lanceolate-acuminate, constricted at base, base auriculate or attenuate; the midrib prolonged distally into a tendril, tendril simple, involutely coiled, sensitive on the adaxial side. Inflorescence terminal, panicle-like, main and lateral branches white, flattened, terminating in condensed spikes of sessile flowers. Flowers relatively small and inconspicuous, actinomorphic, bisexual, 3-merous or rarely 2-merous, subtended by a small bract. Tepals 6 in 2 whorls, subequal, variously reported as free or basally connate, thin, white. Stamens 6, in 2 whorls, sometimes some reduced to staminodes; filaments short at first and elongating at anthesis; anthers linear, basifixed, latrorse, tetrasporangiate and dithecal, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; pollen grains ulcerate and similar to those of grasses. Gynoecium of 3 connate carpels. Ovary superior, 3-locular; style terminal, short, divided into 3 stylodia, stigmatic for most of their length; stigmas dry, papillate on upper surface. Ovules solitary in each locule; placentation axile. Fruit drupaceous, subglobose, 1 (or 2)-seeded. Seeds with copious, mealy endosperm; embryo minute.

Flagellaria indica has been used as a traditional medicine, and the bark and stems for making mats, baskets, fishtraps, and constructing huts.