Citation: Lam., Hist. Nat. (Paris) 2:5 (1792).

Derivation: Same derivation as Polycarpon.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Herb with conspicuous scarious stipules and floral bracts.

Sepals 5, silvery, not keeled; petals and stamens 5; styles 3, united for most of their length.

Capsule 3-valved; seeds whitish, with a brown stripe along the back; cotyledons accumbent, i.e. with their edges instead their backs turned toward radicle.

Distribution:  About 50 species in warm countries, including 12 in Australia (L. Pedley (1977) Austrobaileya 1:49-62).

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: P. corymbosa (L.)Lam. var. minor Pedley was recorded from S.Aust. by Jacobs & Pickard (1981), Plants of New South Wales, but no specimens identified as such has been seen by the author and it was not recorded by Pedley (1977) from S.Aust. It would key out to P. arida but differs in lacking the long floral leaves. Floral leaves are present on all S.Aust. specimens belonging to this group of species (thus apparently eliminating P. corymbosa from the State flora), although they are rarely if ever longer than the inflorescence as indicated by Pedley for P. arida. It appears that these species may not be as readily separable on this character as indicated in Pedley's key.

Key to Species:

1. Sepals without a midrib; petals entire	P. arida 1.
1. Sepals with a coloured midrib; petals bifid	P. spirostylis 2.

Author: Not yet available