II. Subfam. Tristichoideae (J. C. Willis) Engler (1928).

Young flowers either without spathella or, in Dalzellia and Indotristicha, enclosed in cupule (collar-like, vascularised cup); spathella 0; tepals 3, imbricate; stamens 1--3, free; pollen pantoporate with up to 16 pores, shed in monads; ovary 3-locular; stigmas 3; capsule opening by 3 equal valves; valves with 1 rib-like midrib and 2 lateral ribs. Three genera (using a wide genus concept), tropical America, tropical & southern Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, S & SE Asia & N Australia.