This name is given to a wide range of herbaceous plants with straight and flexible stems, characteristic of wet habitats, belonging to three families: Juncaceae, Cyperaceae, and
Typhaceae. Their use, as with canes, goes beyond the littoral and neighboring environment and extends into the mainland, forming part of a common plant culture.
Other 6 large families compose 58 genera and 99 species (45.0 %); 20 families (Equusetaceae, Hypecoaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Frankeniaceae, Capparaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Geraniaceae, Biebersteiniaceae, Peganaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Solanaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Plantaginaceae, Alliaceae, Asparagaceae, Najadaceae, Zosteraceae,
Typhaceae) have only one genus and one species (9.09%).