Eriocaulales

(botany) An order of monocotyledonous plants in the subclass Commelinidae, having a perianth reduced or lacking and having unisexual flowers aggregated on a long peduncle.

An order of flowering plants, division Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae), subclass Commelinidae of the class Liliopsida (monocotyledons). The order consists of the single family Eriocaulaceae, with about 1200 species. The Eriocaulales are Commelinidae with a reduced (or no) perianth and with unisexual flowers aggregated into a dense, involucrate head that is elevated above the clustered, basal leaves on a long peduncle. Although the individual flowers are small and inconspicuous, the heads are more or less showy and pollination is usually by insects, in spite of the absence of nectar and nectaries. The order is of negligible economic importance. See also Commelinidae; Liliopsida.

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