Shrubs or perennial herbs. Leaves opposite and decussate or in whorls of 3(-4), but often appearing to be more numerous because of leafy short shoots at the nodes. Stipules composed of sheaths bearing 1-many setae or fimbriae. Inflorescence usually leafy and inconspicuous, made up of subsessile cymes. Flowers unisexual or bisexual. Style 0. Stigmas very long-exserted. Fruit crowned by persistent calyx lobes and supported by a U-shaped carpophore, splitting into 2 mericarps. Worldwide: 40 species in Africa and Madagascar Zimbabwe: 8 taxa. |