Colobanthus quitensis

Description

Despite its size and the somewhat doubtful mutual relationships, this family is rather uniform and easily recognizable. Most are herbaceous annuals or perennials, dying off above ground each year. A few species are shrubs or small trees, such as some Acanthophyllum species. Most plants are non-succulent; i.e. having no fleshy stems or leaves. The nodes on the stem are swollen. The leaves are almost always opposite,rarely whorled. The blades are entire, petiolate, and often stipulate. These stipules are not sheath-forming.