Ruscaceae

The familyconsists of 9 species and3 genera. The leaves are small or reduced. The plantsare monoecious ordioecious. The seed-vessel of the maleflowers is rudimentary (stunted), maybe even missing. The flowersare small, regular, 3-lobed, cyclic, gathered in cluster-shaped inflorescences. The number of stamens is3 or6, with a perianth. The seed-vesselis 3-locular. The fruits are fleshy, usually red in color and with 1 or4 seeds.