Editing Zingiberales (section)

== Description ==

Zingiberales are one of an [[Ecology|ecologically]] and [[plant morphology|morphologically]] diverse and species-rich [[order (biology)|order]] of [[Monocotyledon|monocots]], with one of the most distinct [[Flower|floral morphology]].{{sfn|Salvi et al|2015}}{{sfn|Deng et al|2016}}{{sfn|Kirchoff et al|2009}} They are large [[Rhizome|rhizomatous]] [[herbaceous plant]]s but lacking an aerial [[plant stem|stem]], except when flowering.<ref name=apw/>

[[Leaf|Leaves]] usually [[petiole (botany)|petiolate]] with distinct petiole and lamina, leaf arrangement [[Phyllotaxis|distichous]] (spiral in Musaceae). Venation pinnate-parallelodromous, with midrib (midvein), S-shaped lateral veins and fine transverse venation.<ref name=Johansson/>{{sfn|Simpson|2011|loc=p. 47}}

[[Flower]]s are generally large and showy, following the general monocot pattern, with [[inflorescence]]s in [[thyrse]]-like spikes, [[Floral symmetry|zygomorphic]] to asymmetric, with two [[Merosity|trimerous]] [[whorl (botany)|whorls]] of [[tepal]]s. [[Gynoecium]] tricarpellate, [[ovary (botany)|ovary]] epigynous (inferior), two trimerous [[androecial]] whorls with [[stamen]]s 6, 5 or 1. Stamens have elongated sterile filaments to which are attached anthers, distally, comprising about half of the length of the total stamen. Septal [[nectar]]ies often present.{{sfn|Kirchoff et al|2009}}{{sfn|Bartlett et al|2010}}{{sfn|Specht et al|2012}} [[Pollen]] [[Sulcus (morphology)|sulcate]] but often inaperturate (lacking apertures).

[[Fruit]] [[Capsule (fruit)|capsular]] or schizocarp. [[Phytochemistry]]: Often containing [[raphide]]s,<ref name=apw/><ref name=Kubitzki/>

Specific characteristics which help to distinguish this order include a herbaceous [[arborescent]] [[Plant stem|stem]], distichous [[phyllotaxy]], large petiolate leaves in which the petioles are often long, parallel and transverse venation diverging laterally from a prominent common midrib, and [[inflorescence]]s of conspicuous colorful [[bract]]s (bracteate inflorescence) and the substitution of one to five rudimentary [[wikt:staminodia|staminodia]] for fertile [[stamen]]s.<ref name=Byng/>{{sfn|Heliconia Society|2017}}{{sfn|Kress|1990}}

Leaf architecture is useful for distinguishing families within Zingiberales, based on vein pattern type, vein length per area, and other aspects of vein architecture such as angle of vein divergence, with three main types of venation recognised. These are the ''Zingiber''-type, with square to vertically elongate [[areole]]s, the ''Costus''-type, with horizontally elongate areoles and the ''Orchidantha''-type with cross veins spanning multiple parallel veins.{{sfn|Salvi et al|2015}}{{sfn|Triplett|Kirchoff|1991}}

===Apomorphies===

The [[Synapomorphy and apomorphy|apomorphies]] (derived characteristics common to a taxonomic group) are considered to be specialised isomorphic root hair cells, penni-parallel leaf venation, supervolute [[Glossary of leaf morphology|ptyxis]] (left and right halves of immature leaf lamina rolled into each other), diaphragmed air chambers in leaves and stem, presence of intracellular [[Silicon dioxide|silica]] bodies, [[Ovary (botany)|epigynous]] flowers and an inferior [[ovary (botany)|ovary]], pollen grains without distinctive aperture but with a reduced exine layer and an elaborated intine layer, nuclear endosperm development, and arillate [[seed]]s.{{sfn|Simpson|2011|loc=p. 192}}{{sfn|Stephen|2015}}{{sfn|Kress et al|2001}}