Nelsonia

Diffuse, softly villous herb. Leaves elliptic, entire. Inflorescence terminal, ovate or cylindric spikes; bracts ovate, glandular, villous, closely imbricate; bracteoles 0. Calyx irregular; lobes 4, free almost to base; adaxial and abaxial lobes large, adaxial one often bifid; lateral lobes small, lanceolate. Corolla 2-lipped, small, purplish, rose or white; lobes 5, obtuse, spreading; tube slender, +/- equal to lips. Androecium: fertile stamens 2, arising above middle of tube; anthers 2-thecous; thecae parallel, broadly elliptic and somewhat divergent, sometimes ciliate, with minute tail or muticous; staminodes 0. Disc annular. Pollen prolate, 3-colporate; surface foveolate. Gynoecium: ovary with 8-10 ovules in each locule; style branches 2; ventral lobe more developed, expanded. Capsule oblong, slightly beaked, bearing seeds from base, empty above, estipitate; with inelastic placental bases; retinacula 0. Seeds small, ellipsoid; surface convolute or rugose, with hygroscopic glochidiate hairs over whole surface. x = 17 (B-chromosomes).