Source:
SSA
Description:
Shrublets to shrubs with branches spreading, fleshy but somewhat woody towards base, often regenerating from base. Leaves opposite, free or slightly fused, fleshy, persistent or deciduous, rarely regenerating from base. Inflorescence a thyrse consisting of several dichasia usually ending in monochasia with few to many flowers; peduncle present or absent with gradual transition from leaves to shorter bracts below flowers; flowers spreading or stiffly erect, 4-merous. Calyx 4-partite. Corolla with 4 petals fused into a tube longer than spreading lobes. Stamens 8, in 2 whorls; filaments glabrous and medially fused to corolla tube; anthers included, with +/- spherical terminal appendage. Squamae 4, free. Carpels 4, free, with ovary gradually constricted into styles with terminal stigma. Seeds ellipsoid, with a constriction and abruptly widening at blunt proximal end, covered with vertical ridges and dense horizontal striations in grooves. x= 17 (aneuploids, high polyploidy).
Distribution:
Species +/- 200; tropical Africa, Madagascar, S and SE Asia and N Australia; 13 in sthn Afr., restricted to the summer-rainfall areas excluding most parts of S Namibia and most of the Eastern Cape.
Classification:
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