The thistles are in this family. Often seedlings will be a rosette. Leaves usually alternate, underside of leaves has grainy texture. Stems can be striped with red. Annual or perennial, generally fleshy.
Stems are generally glabrous, leaves simple usually opposite and sometimes stipuled.
Seed is generally black and shiny within capsules, flowers usually have 2 sepals and 5 petals. Flowers form a cross with 4 sepals and 4 petals, fruit is a modified capsule. This family is highly variable. Mostly herbs, often in rosette. Beak-like seed heads that split in a cork screw manner when dry.