Phylohydrax

Perennial succulent herbs with long, creeping stems bearing +/- short upright branches; stems frequently rooting at nodes. Leaves sessile, decussate, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, mostly obtuse at apex; stipule sheath cupular, toothed. Flowers heterostylous; sessile, axillary, solitary or in pairs. Calyx irregularly lobed, +/- lacerate, persistent in fruit. Corolla 4-lobed, white or pinkish tinged on outside; lobes lanceolate or linear-lanceolate; tube funnel-shaped, with a ring of hairs below throat. Stamens 4, arising in corolla mouth, exserted; filaments shorter than anthers; anthers linear or linear-oblong, exserted. Ovary 2-locular, with a single ovule in each locule; ovule attached near base of septum; style slender, subexserted, divided +/- halfway into linear branches; stigmas hairy. Fruit indehiscent, 1- or 2-locular, 1- or 2-seeded, ellipsoid to oblong-ovoid, laterally compressed, faintly ribbed, small and largely hidden in stipular sheath. Seeds +/- ellipsoidal, minutely granulate.