Spiny shrub or small tree with
a trunk often swollen below. Leaves entire, oblong to obovate,
either petiolate and alternate on long shoots or fasciculate in
the axils of spines, densely covered in stellately-branched
mucilage glands. Inflorescence a few flowered raceme. Corolla
5-lobed, with a long tube and (in ours) a short spur. Stamens 4.
Fruit a flattened woody capsule. Seeds numerous, flattened with
broad membranous wings. Worldwide: 5 species in tropical Africa Zimbabwe: 1 taxon. |
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