Most members of this family are subtropical and tropical, so what a surprise to find this one in Brooklyn Bridge Park! The family includes trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs with opposite leaves and generally 4 or 5 fused sepals and 4 or 5 fused petals. What is most distinguishing about the family is that many members contain powerful alkaloids, some of medicinal value. Flowers may unfold in a scorpion-like form.
