The pungent principle of chile is structurally related to alkaloids, but hardly toxic. Labiatae A highly advanced, quite homogenous family of 3200 species. Most species are annual or perennial herbs or woody dwarf shrubs. Closely related to the former family, but many of the 2600 species are trees or shrubs. An important family of 3000 species, mostly herbs growing in temperate climates.
Several species are partial parasites.
A small family of 50 mostly tropic species. Herbs or woody shrubs. The predecessors probably were dicots similar to today's Magnoliidae . Common features include one cotyledon, three- fold symmetry in flowers and parallel venation. Distributed over all continents.