Source:
SSA
Description:
Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves entire. Inflorescence axillary, umbel-like group of monochasial cymes, sometimes reduced; primary bracts foliaceous, secondary bracts linear-lanceolate, tertiary bracts obovate, elliptic, or narrowly lanceolate, free or united into a tube, quaternary bracts linear-lanceolate when present. Calyx regular; lobes 4 or 5, linear-lanceolate; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla 2-lipped, resupinate, hairy; lip in upper position 3-toothed or shortly 3-lobed, rugula indistinct; lip in lower position entire or emarginate; aestivation ascending; tube shorter than lobes, cylindric below, somewhat campanulate above. Androecium: fertile stamens 2, arising in corolla throat, exserted; filaments linear, thinly hairy; anthers monothecous; theca muticous; staminodes 0. Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate. Disc cupular, with V-shaped slit, with 2 awns. Gynoecium: ovary ellipsoid, with 2 ovules in each locule; style filiform, exserted; style branches 2, equal, cylindriform, longer than broad. Capsule ovoid, stipitate. Seeds discoid; surface smooth or rough, with or without tubercles. x = 10 (aneuploids).
Distribution:
Species +/- 40, Africa to Asia, East Indies and Australia; 3 in sthn Afr., Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and mainly northern and eastern provinces of South Africa south to +/- Still Bay (Western Cape).
Classification:
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