Petiveriaceae

Trees, shrubs, lianes or herbs. Stipules absent or very small. Leaves alternete, simple; veins lateral from a single midrib; margin entire. Inflorescences axillary or terminal; flowers solitary or in cymes, racemes or panicles; bracts and bracteoles present. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, small, generally actinomorphic. Sepals 4 or 5, green or coloured. persistant; petals absent; stamens 4-65, free, with anthers dorsifixed, opening longitudinally; gynoecium superior, with 1 carpel, 1 locule. Fruit a berry, samara or an achene.

This family was previously placed in Phytolaccaceae as the subfamily Rivinoideae.

Worldwide: Native in the tropical and subtropical Americas; various species introduced in tropical Africa and Asia.

Mozambique: 2 genera and 2 taxa.