909.000 Dichorisandra J.C. Mikan

Stout perennials, erect (in ours) with leaves spirally arranged. Flowers bilaterally symmetric, borne in a terminal, rarely axillary, inflorescence of compound cymes. Sepals unequal, the upper hooded, often coloured like the petals. Petals hairless, violet blue, often white at base, or white. Stamens 5-6, of more than one type; filaments hairless; anthers opening by apical pores. Ovary 3-locular with several ovules per loculus. Fruit a capsule. Seeds with a fleshy, orange or red, false aril.

Worldwide: c. 38 species in the neotropics

Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon.