| Flagellaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flagellaria indica[2] | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Clade: | Graminid clade |
| Family: | Flagellariaceae Dumort.[1] |
| Genus: | Flagellaria L. |
Flagellaria is the sole genus in theflowering plantfamilyFlagellariaceae with only five species.[3] The family has historically been recognized by few taxonomists. TheAPG II system, of 2003 (unchanged from theAPG system, 1998), does recognize such a family, and assigns it to the orderPoales in the cladecommelinids, in themonocots.
Flagellaria consists of only five known species, found in the tropical and subtropical regions ofAsia,Africa, Australia, and various island of thePacific andIndian Oceans. These plants are remarkable for two reasons: they are vines which branchdichotomously and each of the leaves is tipped with atendril.[4]
