Habit: Terrestrial, Herbaceous, Woody, Trees or shrubs, Lianas or vines, Epiphytes, Perennials

Roots: Prop roots, Roots aerial (adventitious), Sap clear

Stems: elongate, contracted, rounded, solid

Leaves: Leaves - sheathing at base, Leaves - sheath open, Leaves - simple, Leaves - cauline, Leaves - basal (rosette), Leaves - alternate, Leaves - 3-ranked, Leaves - spiral, Leaves - linear or filiform (grass-like), Leaves - venetion parallel, Leaves - dense and fibrous, Leaves - margins and tip spiny, Leaves - margins serrate

Inflorescence: terminal, bracteate, racemes, spikes, umbels, subtended by large spathe (leaf-like bract), bracts brown membraneous, Flowers pedicellate

Flowers: Flowers unisexual, Plants dioecious, Perianth absent, Flowers minute barely visible

Stamens: Stamens 1, Stamens 2, Stamens 3, Stamens 4 (2+2), Stamens 5, Stamens 6 (3+3), Stamens 9, Stamens numerous

Pistil: Carpels separate (apocarpous), Carpels united, Carpels partially united, Carpels 2, Carpels 3, Carpels 4, Carpels 6, Carpels many, Ovary superior, Styles 1, Stigma terminal capitate or trilobed, Locules 1, Placentation parietal, Placentation basal (or apical)

Fruit: Fruit - berry, Fruit - drupe, Fruit - multiple

Seeds: Seeds - single per locule, Seeds - few (2-10) per locule, Seeds - numerous per locule, Seeds - surface +/- smooth, Seeds - round or ellipsoid, Seeds U-shaped