Source:
SSA
Description:
Scrambling or erect. Leaves: usually leaves of each pair unequal. Inflorescence axillary, partially reduced dichasial cymes subtended by a foliaceous bract. Calyx irregular, 2-lipped; upper lip of 4 lobes and lower of 1 much enlarged lobe, glandular-hairy, persistent; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla +/- 2-lipped; upper lip 2-lobed; lower 3-lobed; lobes oblong or spatulate; aestivation contorted; rugula indistinct; tube longer than lobes, curved. Androecium: fertile stamens 4, didynamous, arising +/- at middle of corolla tube, included; filaments arising in pairs, linear; anthers 2-thecous; thecae parallel, muticous and sometimes mucronate at base; staminodes 0. Pollen prolate, 3-(col)porate, with pseudocolpi; pore lipped; surface reticulate. Disc annular, with projection that might represent a fifth stamen. Gynoecium: ovary ellipsoid, with 2 ovules in each locule; style terete, finely pilose; style branch 1; ventral lobe sometimes expanded. Capsule estipitate, with elastic placental bases. Seeds compressed orbicular, with hygroscopic hairs over whole surface. x = 17 (1 report).
Distribution:
Species +/- 20, Africa to India; 3 in sthn Afr., N Namibia, Swaziland and northern and eastern provinces of South Africa.
Classification:
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