gesneriad

Gesneriad is a family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales, commonly known as the Gesneriaceae. The family is named after Conrad Gesner, a Swiss physician and botanist who first described many of its members. Gesneriad plants are typically herbaceous, perennial, or annual, and they are found in a wide range of habitats, including tropical and temperate regions. They are characterized by their diverse inflorescences, which can be axillary, terminal, or racemose, and their often colorful flowers. The family includes approximately 1,200 species, which are distributed across 60 genera. Some notable genera include Gesneria, Columnea, and Rhytidocaulon. Gesneriad plants are valued for their ornamental qualities, with many species cultivated for their attractive flowers and foliage. They are also used in traditional medicine and as food sources in some cultures. The family is further divided into subfamilies, including Gesnerioideae, Didymocarpoideae, and Cyrtandroideae, each with its own distinctive characteristics.