Velloziaceae J.Agardh

Perennial herbs or shrubs; indument highly diverse, often not strictly epidermal;  stems mostly elongate and branched, covered with persistent leaf-sheaths, fibrous. Leaves (young, complete) in a fascicle at the end of the stem or of each branch; sheaths densely imbricate, cylindric with a V-shaped sinus opposite the blade; blades narrow and grass-like, persistent and gradually decomposing with age or deciduous by a symmetrical transverse line. Peduncles at the end of the stem or of each branch, 1-flowered. Flowers perfect or rarely functionally unisexual (Barbaceniopsis). Perianth-tube equalling to greatly exceeding the ovary and adnate to it; tepals 6 in 2 series but usually almost identical. Stamens 6 or numerous >i>(Vellozia in part); filaments terete and slender or variously flattened and forming a corona-like ring; anthers linear, introrse, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary 3-locular, inferior; style slender, elongate; stigmas linear and vertical or orbicular and horizontal from the apex of the style (>i>Vellozia); ovules numerous in many rows on stalked placentas. Fruit a tardily and irregularly dehiscent capsule. Seeds numerous; embryo small in a copious endosperm