A family of about 30 genera and 300 species, pantropic, with a few species in temperate regions; three genera occur naturally in Australia.

Boerhavia - A genus of ca. 20 species widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres; 8 species from Australia with 5 of them endemic.Identification of species is problematic and while only one species is included in this key, future editions will include additional species.

Commicarpus - A genus of 23 species, mostly in Africa; three species occur naturally in Australia, two endemic. Du Puy & Telford (1993).

Mirabilis - A genus of about 60 species mostly in the Americas, with one species in the Himalayas and SW China; one species has become naturalised in Australia. Meikle & Hewson (1984); Stemmerik (1964).

Pisonia - A genus of about 35 species, pantropic, predominantly in America and SE Asia; three species occur naturally in Australia. Meikle & Hewson (1984); Stemmerik (1964).

Meikle, R.D. & Hewson, H.J. (1984). Nyctaginaceae. In 'Flora of Australia.' Vol. 4, (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra.), pp. 5-18, 318-319.

Stemmerik, J.F. (1964). Nyctaginaceae. In 'Flora Malesiana.' Series 1, Vol. 6, (P. Noordhoff: Groningen.), pp. 450-468.