7985.000 Crossandra Salisb.

Perennial herbs or small shrubs. Inflorescence a terminal spike, often borne on a long peduncle. Bracts prominent, ovate; bracteoles as a long as calyx. Calyx ± zygomorphic with a short tube and 5 longer lobes, the upper lobe broadest and often 2-toothed. Corolla 1-lipped, yellow, orange, red, pale peach-coloured to salmon pink, the lip 5-lobed; adaxial suture slit. Stamens 4, all 1-thecous, included within the corolla tube; filaments epipetalous for most of their length. Disk annular. Ovary ellipsoid. Seeds borne on retinacula.

Derivation of name: from the Greek krossos, meaning a fringe and andros, male, referring to the ciliate anthers

Worldwide: c. 50 species in tropical Africa, Asia, Arabia and Madagascar

Zimbabwe: 5 taxa.