The Campanulaceae or bellflower family includes about 70 genera and 2000 species of mostly herbs and shrubs with milky sap. The family has a widespread distribution from the Arctic to the Southern hemisphere and excluding only the major deserts. In addition to the many herbaceous species, the family includes some climbers and a few small trees. The leaves are typically alternate, sometimes opposite, and are simple and extipulate. The family's common name describes the relatively large and showy bell-shaped flowers that are usually 5-merous and more often than not of some bluish color. The fruit is usually a capsule or a berry. Of all the genera, probably those that are best known are Campanula and Lobelia. Their beauty has made them popular in the horticultural trade, but they have little other economic importance except for some alkaloids present in the sap.