Dipsacaceae - Scabious family

Herbs. Leaves opposite, without stipules, entire to pinnatifid, often variable on the same plant. Inflorescence usually capitate on a long peduncle, each head surrounded by involucral bracts. Receptacular scales present (in ours). Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, epigynous, each subtended at its base by an epicalyx (involucel) of united bracteoles. Calyx cup-shaped, sometimes with long spreading bristles. Corolla 4-5-lobed. Stamens exserted, 4 (in ours), anthers free. Ovary inferior, with 1 ovule. Fruit an achene enclosed in the involucel.

The arrangement of many flowers in a head surrounded by bracts resembles the Asteraceae in many ways, but the Dipsacaceae can be distinguished by the exserted stamens with free anthers and by the fruit enclosed in an involucel.

Worldwide: 11 genera and 290 species, Eurasia and Africa and especially in the Mediterranean region.