Hydrophyllaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous), usually hairy annuals with tap roots; hairs on stem both gland-tipped and non-glandular. Leaves alternate, fern-like, compound and dissected, with lobes and teeth; stipules none.

Flowers blue-purple, arranged in a coiled or spiral cyme (resembling the shape of a fiddlehead); each flower producing both pollen and seeds; radially symmetrical. Petals 5, fused at base to form a bell-like tube, remaining separate toward the tip as lobes. Sepals 5, separate nearly to the base. Stamens 5, attached inside the petal tube, alternating with the petal lobes and protruding well out from the petals. Carpels 2, fused to form 1 pistil with a single ovary; ovary located above point of attachment of other flower parts (superior); style deeply forked into 2 parts. Fruit a capsule with 2 valves.