Citation: Benth., in Hook., Compan. Bot. Mag. 1:371 (1836).

Derivation: Greek prefix poly-, many; carenon, head; referring to the many terminal clusters of flowers of some species.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Annual herbs.

Flowers often small, subsessile, in terminal spikes, at first capitate, becoming elongated in fruit, rarely elongated or interrupted at the start; bract fused to the very short pedicel, sometimes also to the calyx; sepals 5, fused to a varying extent, regular or forming 2 lips; corolla persistent or tardily deciduous, with 5 spreading subequal lobes, sometimes obscurely 2-labiate; stamens 4, briefly exserted; style filiform.

Distribution:  About 40 species in southern Africa; 2 species naturalised in southern Australia.

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Hilliard & Burtt (1977) consider that the union of Bentham's genera Phyllopodium and Polycarena by Levyns may have been premature. If their views are confirmed, P. heterophylla would revert to Phyllopodium.

Key to Species:

1. Plant eglandular-villous, with branches largely arising from the base of the plant; basal leaves 5-35 x 1.5-11 mm; flowers in terminal subhemispherical clusters; calyx of 5 segments fused in the basal third	P. heterophylla 1.
1. Plant glandular-puberulent, with branches arising throughout ,the length of the stem; basal leaves 3-12 x 1.5-3 mm; flowers in axillary and terminal elongated spikes; calyx of 2 short subentire lips.	P. leipoldtii 2.

Author: Not yet available