The Lamiaceae or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, thyme, lavender, and perilla, as well as other medicinal herbs such as catnip, salvia, bee balm, wild dagga, and oriental motherwort. Some species are shrubs, trees, or, rarely, vines. Many members of the family are widely cultivated, not only for their aromatic qualities, but also their ease of cultivation, since they are readily propagated by stem cuttings. Besides those grown for their edible leaves, some are grown for decorative foliage. Others are grown for seed, such as Salvia hispanica (chia), or for their edible tubers, such as Plectranthus edulis, Plectranthus esculentus, Plectranthus rotundifolius, and Stachys affinis. Many are also grown ornamentally, notably coleus, Plectranthus, and many Salvia species and hybrids.
The Polygalaceae or the milkwort family are made up of flowering plants in the order Fabales. They have a near-cosmopolitan range, with about 27 genera and ca. 900 known species of herbs, shrubs and trees. Over half of the species are in one genus, Polygala, the milkworts.
Calliandra is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, in the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains about 140 species that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.
Parkia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Several species are known as African locust bean.
Cleome is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cleomaceae, commonly known as spider flowers, spider plants, spider weeds, or bee plants. Previously, it had been placed in the family Capparaceae, until DNA studies found the Cleomaceae genera to be more closely related to the Brassicaceae than the Capparaceae. Cleome and clammyweed can sometimes be confused.
Securidaca is a genus of shrubs and lianas in the family Polygalaceae. It is native to tropical Africa, SE Asia and the Americas from Mexico and the West Indies to Paraguay.
Cantinoa is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. It is native primarily to New World, with some species introduced in the old world.
Hebecarpa is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Polygalaceae. Species are found from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to western South America.
Asemeia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Polygalaceae. It includes 36 species native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and tropical South America to northern Argentina.
Acanthocladus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Polygalaceae. Species of the genus are native to South America.
Mesosphaerum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae, native to the New World Tropics and Subtropics. Two species, Mesosphaerum pectinatum and Mesosphaerum suaveolens, have been introduced to the Old World, with M. suaveolens found in the tropics of Africa, Asia and Australia.
Caamembeca is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Polygalaceae.
Cyanocephalus is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lamiaceae.
Oocephalus is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lamiaceae.
Gymneia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lamiaceae.
Medusantha is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lamiaceae.
