Illecebraceae
An order of sub-erect, diffuse, or pulvinately-tufted, annual or perennial herbs (rarely shrubs or sub-shrubs). The species are widely distributed, principally throughout warm and dry regions, many being found in South Europe and North Africa. Flowers green or white, regular, generally hermaphrodite, inconspicuous, herbaceous, often scariously bracted, generally disposed in trichotomous cymes; petals small or absent. Fruit small, indehiscent, or three-valved. Leaves generally opposite, small, entire; base often connate; stipules scariose, simple bifid or connate, rarely none. The order comprises seventeen genera and about ninety species. Illustrative genera are: Illecebrum, Paronychia, and Scleranthus.