Cephalophyllum

Prostrate perennials, sometimes compact, rarely erect and shrubby, with a prominent, vegetative, monopodial head in several species; main stem short, producing decumbent or prostrate branches, with distinct internodes between some leaf pairs. Leaves opposite, not connate, crowded at end of stem and branches, apically triangular in cross section, basally rounded, rarely quilt-shaped, club-shaped or triquetrous, often mucronate; stomata not sunken. Flowers 1-3, rarely solitary, terminal, up to 50 mm in diameter, on elongate, bibracteate or ebracteate pedicels; opening midday or afternoon. Sepals 5. Petals free, linear, yellow, purple or white in various combinations. Stamens erect, often differing in colour from petals. Nectary a crenulate ring. Ovary with top raised into a crater-like rim surrounding stigmas or sometimes simply depressed in centre; placentas basal; stigmas 10-21, plumose. Fruit a 10-21-locular capsule, of Leipoldtia type; with a prominent closing bulge formed by roof of locule; valve wings well developed; expanding keels parallel; covering membranes present; closing bodies large; sometimes as tumble fruit. Seeds ovoid or pear-shaped, small, brown. x = 9 ( polyploidy). F lowering in winter. D istinguishing characters: cushion-forming perennials, creeping or erect; flowers often brilliantly multicoloured; fruit 10-20-locular with large closing bodies, broad valve wings and covering membranes with large closing bulges distally.