Fls us. perfect and regular, solitary to racemose or paniculate. Sepals (3)-5-(, us. imbricate, often petaloid; petals (0)-5-10-(() us. nectariferous; stamens us. ∞; anthers 2-celled, adnate. Carpels ∞ to 1, us. free; receptacle often conical. Fr. of achenes or follicles; seeds minute, endosperm cop. Mostly perennial or annual herbs with radical and/or alt., rarely opp., exstipulate lvs. Cosmopolitan, with some 50 genera and over 1300 spp.

Herbs, rarely woody climbers, usually perennial, sometimes annual. Lvs alternate, rarely opposite, exstipulate, rarely stipulate, usually ternate, ternatifid, or 1-2-pinnate. Infl. a raceme, lax leafy cyme, panicle, or fls solitary. Fls hypogynous, usually ☿, usually actinomorphic. Perianth of 1-2 whorls, differentiated into sepals and petals or all petaloid; segments free, clawed or not, sometimes 1 or more spurred or hooded. Stamens usually numerous, in spiral whorls. Carpels usually free, usually numerous, in spiral whorls. Fr. an achene or follicle, rarely a berry. Seeds smooth or sculptured; embryo small, straight; endosperm copious.