Perennial herbs from a woody rootstock. Stipules with bases connate with the petiole, fimbriate. Leaves opposite. Flowers bisexual, dimorphic (some flowers with
anthers exserted and style included and others vice versa),
usually in capitate inflorescences. Calyx lobes 5, 1-3 enlarged and often
leaf-like, the rest small. Corolla usually blue;
lobes usually 5. Ovary 2-5-locular. Stigma lobes equal
in number to the number of loculi in the ovary. Fruit ±
spherical, slightly fleshy. Worldwide: 15 species in tropical Africa Zimbabwe: 2 taxa. |
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