Source:
SSA
Description:
Undershrubs. Leaves shortly petiolate. Inflorescence terminal thyrses; bracts and bracteoles present. Calyx regular; lobes 5; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla 2-lipped; lobes 5, subequal; aestivation ascending; rugula indistinct; tube longer than lobes, long-cylindric; small, cleistogamous flowers usually present. Androecium: fertile stamens 2, arising in throat of corolla; filaments linear; anthers 2-thecous; thecae parallel, muticous; staminodes 2. Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate. Disc shallowly cupular. Gynoecium: ovary oblong, with 2 ovules in each locule; style branches 2, equal (occasionally unequal); ventral lobe more developed, expanded. Capsule long-stipitate, with inelastic placental bases. Seed surface rough and convolute or rugose. x = 7 (polyploidy).
Distribution:
Species +/- 60, cosmopolitan in tropics; 2 in sthn Afr., KwaZulu-Natal.
Classification:
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