Crossandra

Salisb.
Source: 
SSA
Description: 
Shrublets or acaulescent perennials. Leaves sometimes large and elliptic. Inflorescence terminal, spicate, often on long peduncles; bracts large, ovate, usually pubescent, sometimes papery; bracteoles as long as calyx. Calyx subirregular, often with stalked, glandular hairs; lobes 5, elliptic or lanceolate, with uppermost lobe broadest and often 2-toothed; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla 1-lipped; lip 5-lobed, lobes rotund; aestivation imbricate; tube longer than lobes, cylindric. Androecium: fertile stamens 4, arising in upper part of corolla tube, included; filaments linear, shorter than anthers; anthers monothecous; theca sometimes ciliate, muticous; staminodes 0. Pollen prolate (with squared ends), 3-colpate; surface foveolate. Disc annular. Gynoecium: ovary ellipsoid, with 2 ovules in each locule; style filamentous, included; style branches 2, equal, cylindriform. Capsule oblong-elliptic, estipitate, with inelastic placental bases. Seeds ovate, compressed, with hygroscopic scales over whole surface. x = 19 (10) (polyploidy).
Distribution: 
Species +/- 50, Africa, Arabian Peninsula, India, Madagascar; 4 in sthn Afr., Swaziland and mainly northern and eastern provinces of South Africa.
Classification: 

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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith