Distribution:  Found throughout the tropics and subtropics - pantropical - with some taxa, including the 4 genera each with a single species in Texas, extending into temperate parts of the World.

Floral structure:

Significant features:  Placed by Cronquist as the basal element of the Subclass, mainly due to partial syncarpy.

Phytolacca americana - uniseriate perianth with 10 stamens, hypogynous and about ten carpels (each with a single ovule)	Phytolacca gynoecium -  carpels only partially joined at the ovary with styles separate	Phytolacca gynoecium -  fruit a berry

More information on the Phytolaccaceae