Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Metachlamydeae: Dipsacales

Dipsacaceae - Scabious family

Cannon, M.J. & J.F.M. (1983) Dipsacaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1)

Description of the 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.

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

Malawi: 2 genera and 4 taxa.

Links to genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Cephalaria Schrad. ex Roem. & Schult.	Description, Image
Scabiosa L.	Description, Image

Other sources of information about Dipsacaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Dipsacaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Dipsacaceae
Flora of Zambia: Dipsacaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Dipsacaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Dipsacaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Dipsacaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Dipsacaceae
Wikipedia: Dipsacaceae