Menispermaceae - Moonseed family

Dioecious trailing herbs, climbers or lianes. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate, simple, sometimes peltate, entire or lobed, petiolate. Inflorescence various, many-flowered. Flowers small, unisexual, actinomorphic. Male flowers: sepals (1-)3-12(-many); petals 1-6, free or connate or 0; stamens 3-6 or indefinite. Female flowers: sepals and petals generally as male; staminodes may be present; carpels (1-)3-6(-many), free; ovules 2. Fruiting carpels drupe-like. Seeds often curved or horseshoe-shaped.

Worldwide: 72 genera and 450 species, tropical and warm areas, with few temperate.

Burundi: 4 genera and 6 taxa.