Herbs. Leaves opposite, often linear and glaucous. Flowers terminal, solitary, in loose cymes or in dense involucrate heads. Sepals united to form a tubular calyx; the calyx with numerous parallel obscure veins, bearing 4-10 epicalyx segments. Petals 5, entire, toothed or (in ours) deeply fimbriate; pink, red or white; coronal scales 0. Stamens 10. Styles 2. Fruit a 1-locular capsule with 4 teeth. Seeds flattened. Derivation of name: from the Greek meaning 'flower of Jove' Worldwide: c. 300 spp. in Europe and Asia with a few on tropical African mountains. |
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