Campanulaceae is a small family of nearly 2400 species distributed in nearly 90 genera distributed primarily in Temperate regions, though also represented in Tropics. Nearly 75 species are represented in India.
Usually herbs, a few climbers, shrubs and trees; leaves usually alternate, exstipulate, usually simple, sometimes somewhat lobed; flowers solitary, spicate or in racemes, mostly blue in colour, though also white, purple and other colours are represented; calyx tube partly adnate to ovary, lobes free, 5, persistent; corolla gamopetalous, shallowly or deeply 5-lobed, persistent; stamens 5, alternate with corolla lobes, filaments free or united, often dilated at base; ovary 2-5 celled, somewhat inferior, placentation axile; style linear, stigmas 2-5, spreading; fruit a 2-5 valved capsule. Important genera expected in our uploads: Asyneuma Campanula Codonopsis Cyananthus Lobelia Phyteuma Pratia Wahlenbergia Gentianaceae is another small family with around 1500 species in nearly 90 genera also mainly concentrated in temperate regions, extending to Alpine and Arctic regions. Nearly 130 species in India. Annual or perennial herbs, usually glabrous bitter herbs with opposite leaves, rarely alternate, simple, entire, often united at base; stipules absent; flowers solitary or in terminal paniculate clusters; Calyx shallowly or deeply divided; corolla gamopetalous, 3-5 lobed, with or without folds between the lobes, throat naked or fringed with scales; stamens as many as corolla lobes; ovary superior, of two united carpels, usually 1-celled with many ovules; stigma generally 2-lobed; fruit a capsule opening by two valves. Important genera expected in our uploads: Canscora Crawfurdia Enicostemma Exacum Gentiana Gentianella Halenia Hoppea Jaeschkea Lomatogonium Megacodon Pleurogynella Sebaea Swertia -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/
