Philydraceae

Fruit a 3-valved loculicidalloculicidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal)
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
, sometimes a septicidalsepticidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally by separating between the septa of adjacent carpels
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
or berryberry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
(Helmholtzia), 3–10 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to fusiformfusiform:
spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, with many seeds. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
white, blue, or brown, smooth, sometimes pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
.

Seeds linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
to teardrop-shapedteardrop-shaped:
2D shape—widest point is toward one end of the fruit, the other end tapers sharply to a pointed end
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, less than 1 mm (Philydrum, Philydrella) to 1.5–5 mm long (Helmholtzia), usually with red-colored chalazalchalaza:
the region at the base of the ovule where the integuments are inserted
cap and an operculumoperculum:
a dehiscent cap (or lid) of a seed or fruit that opens during germination or dehiscence
. Seed coat red, yellow, or brown, reticulate-rugose (Philydrella), spirally striate-tuberculate (Philydrum), or silky-striate (Helmholtzia). In one species of Helmholtzia, chalazalchalaza:
the region at the base of the ovule where the integuments are inserted
is twisted and appears like an elaiosomeelaiosome:
a lipid and protein-rich fleshy structure attached to some seeds and fruits, it attracts ants which then disperse the disseminule (e.g., caruncle in the Euphorbiaceae, the aril (outgrowth of the funiculus) in the Fabaceae)
.

Embryo linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
, straight, axileaxile:
on or of the axis
and centric, embedded in endosperm.

Endosperm copious, non-mealy.