The commelinids are a group of 29 interrelated families of flowering plants, named for one of the four included orders, Commelinales. This subgroup of the monocots accounts for most of the global agricultural output; the grass family alone contains the major cereal grains (including rice, wheat, and maize or corn), along with forage grasses, sugar cane, and bamboo. The palm, banana, ginger, pineapple and sedge families are also commelinids.

Traits common to most commelinids include partially fluorescent cell walls, starchy seeds and an extra layer of epidermal wax. Like other monocots, they usually have a single embryonic leaf (cotyledon) in their seeds, scattered vascular systems, leaves with parallel veins, flowers with parts in threes or multiples of three, and roots that can develop in more than one place along the stems. These plants are found worldwide, even in mainland Antarctica; two species of grass are the only vascular plants found there. __FORCETOC__

Glossary

From the glossary of botanical terms: annual: a plant species that completes its life cycle within a single year or growing season basal: attached close to the base (of a plant or an evolutionary tree diagram) climber: a vine that leans on, twines around or clings to other plants for vertical support herbaceous: not woody; usually green and soft in texture perennial: not an annual or biennial woody: hard and lignified; not herbaceous

The APG IV system is the fourth in a series of plant taxonomies from the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

Families +Family and a common nameType genus and etymologyTotal genera; global distributionDescription and usesOrderType genus imagesArecaceae(palm family)Areca was named for a Malabar plant. 180 genera, in the tropics, the subtropics, and some temperate regions This family includes trees, shrubs, shrublets and climbers. Leaves are often sharp and prickly. The coco-de-mer has the heaviest seed of any plant, at up to , and Corypha umbraculifera has the largest inflorescence, with up to 10 million flowers. One 2000-year-old date palm seed has been germinated successfully.Arecales Areca catechuBromeliaceae(pineapple family)Bromelia was named for Olof Bromelius (1639–1705), a Swedish doctor and botanist. 76 genera, widespread in the tropical and warm temperate Americas These plants mostly grow on other plants or rocks. Leaves can be multihued, and are usually long and rigid. Spanish moss was formerly an important packing material in the southern United States. Puya chilensis can be considered partly carnivorous, by virtue of its sharp-tipped leaves.Poales Bromelia pinguinCannaceae(canna-lily family)Canna comes from a Greek plant name. 1 genus, in the tropics and subtropics of the Americas These non-woody plants are tall, with many broad leaves. They are bred by horticulturists and cultivated around the world. Rhizomes of Canna discolor are a staple food in parts of Asia.Zingiber­ales Canna indicaCommelina­ceae(spiderwort family)Commelina was named for Jan (1629–1692) and Caspar Commelijn (1667–1734). 36 genera, throughout the tropics, and in parts of East Asia and temperate North America These fleshy plants are non-woody perennials and annuals. Commelina communis is sometimes consumed in Asia. Commelin­ales Commelina communis Costaceae(spiral-ginger family)Costus comes from a Latin plant name. 8 genera, throughout the tropics These plants are usually large perennials with showy bracts. Unlike the plants in the ginger family, these are not aromatic. Dimerocostus fruit is consumed in South America.Zingiber­ales Costus pictus Cyperaceae(sedge family)Cyperus comes from a Greek plant name. 94 genera, worldwide These non-woody plants grow in soil and water. Annual species generally grow in bunches, like tufts of grass. Papyrus is still used as a paper substitute, and edible tubers of Cyperus esculentus are still cultivated, both probably since 3000 BC. Papyrus is widely considered an invasive species. Totora reeds are occasionally woven into rafts.Poales Cyperus esculentusDasypogona­ceae(savior-grass family)Dasypogon is from the Greek for "hairy beard". 4 genera, in Australia These perennials can be shrubby or tree-shaped, with wide or grassy leaves. One genus, Baxteria, has a putrified smell, perhaps to facilitate pollination.Arecales Dasypogon bromeliifolius Ecdeiocolea­ceae(kwongan-rush family)Ecdeiocolea is from the Greek for "binding sheath". 2 genera, in Western Australia These non-woody perennials grow in tufts, similar to clumps of rushes. Leaves are little more than sheaths.Poales Ecdeiocolea monostachyaEriocaulaceae(pipewort family)Eriocaulon is from the Greek for "woolly stem". 7 genera, across the tropics, extending into some temperate zones worldwide These plants are non-woody, sometimes aquatic annuals and perennials, and usually tufted. One species, Syngonanthus nitens, is used in handicrafts.Poales Eriocaulon decangulareFlagellaria­ceae(whip-vine family)Flagellaria is from the same root as flagelliform, "whip-like". 1 genus, in tropical and southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania These non-woody rhizomatous perennials have leaves with tendrils or tendril-shaped tips. The plants are used in basket-weaving.Poales Flagellaria indicaHaemodora­ceae(kangaroo-paw family)Haemodorum is from the Greek for "blood gift". 15 genera, in Australia, South Africa, and the Americas These non-woody perennials have rhizomes, bulbs or other underground organs, usually reddish or orangish. Roots of Haemodorum produce a potable red pigment. Commelin­ales Haemodorum corymbosumHanguana­ceae(susum family)Hanguana was named for an Indonesian plant. 1 genus, in Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and Oceania These non-woody perennials are found in humid forests and waterways. Stems of Hanguana anthelminthica are edible.Commelin­ales Hanguana malayanaHeliconiaceae(parrot-flower family)Heliconia comes from a Latin plant name (an apparent reference to Mount Helicon). 1 genus, in the tropical Americas and Oceania These are large non-woody evergreens with crested multihued bracts. The inflorescences are bred by horticulturists.Zingiber­ales Heliconia psittacorumJoinvilleaceae(ohe family)Joinvillea was named for François d'Orléans, Prince of Joinville (1818–1900). 1 genus, in Southeast Asia and Pacific islands These large, non-woody rhizomatous plants are similar to whip vine. Stems are hollow, except at the nodes. Poales Joinvillea ascendensJuncaceae(rush family)Juncus was the Classical Latin name for this plant, from the Latin for "binding". 8 genera, worldwide, except for most of the Amazon basin These non-woody, usually rhizomatous plants are similar to the grass and sedge families, with adaptations to wind-pollination. They are used for fodder and in woven goods; in the Andes, they are also used as fuel.Poales Juncus acutusLowiaceae(orchid-lily family)Lowia, an earlier synonym for Orchidantha, was named for Hugh Lowe (1824–1905), an English colonial administrator and naturalist. 1 genus, in tropical Asia These smooth, non-woody plants are generally found near streams in evergreen forests.Zingiber­ales Orchidantha fimbriataMarantaceae(prayer-plant family)Maranta was named for Bartolomeo Maranta (1500–1571). 29 genera, throughout the tropics, and extending a bit north and south in the Americas These are non-woody forest-dwelling or aquatic plants, some with bamboo-like stems. The Caribbean species arrowroot is cultivated for its edible starch.Zingiber­ales Maranta arundinacea