While there are many plant families with members with opposite leaves, there are three large families of flowering plants with this trait that are easy to recognise...

 

RUBIACEAE - Coffee Family
  • stipule(s) between the pairs of opposite leaves
  • regular flowers

LAMIACEAE (LABIATAE) -Mint family

  • lipped flowers
  •  stems square in cross-section

 

VERBENACEAE -Vervain family

  • almost regular flowers
  • young stem square in cross-section

 

 

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© Sean Carrington 2002