Source:
SSA
Description:
Perennial herbs or small shrubs, markedly pubescent. Leaves often rugose, toothed. Inflorescences usually simple, of several to many verticils; verticils few- to many-flowered; bracts similar to leaves; bracteoles linear to spathulate, ascending, often somewhat spine-tipped or subulate. Calyx funnel-shaped, 10-nerved, 10-20-toothed, villous, glandular; teeth subequal or unequal, spreading, ovate-deltoid, shortly acuminate or narrowed into an awn. Corolla bilabiate; tube shorter than or equalling calyx, with a ring of hairs in throat; lower lip 3-lobed with median lobe the largest, emarginate. Stamens 4, didynamous, ascending, anterior pair longer and shortly exserted; filaments arising near throat, villous; anthers 2-thecous, thecae diverging. Style subequally 2-lobed, shortly exserted. Nutlets ovoid-oblong, rounded at apex, smooth. x = 11 (7, 9, 10) (polyploidy).
Distribution:
Species +/- 35, concentrated around the Mediterranean and adjoining Asia Minor; 1 species: Ballota africana (L.) Benth. in arid parts of the winter-rainfall region as far north as the Orange River and S Namibia, also in Free State and Eastern Cape.
Classification:
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