Erect perennial herbs. Roots wiry
or fusiform. Leaves subterete or flattened, glabrous or ciliate on
the margins, ± fleshy. Inflorescence a [?simple], many-flowered raceme.
Bracts membranous, persistent. Pedicels not articulated. Flowers
bright yellow. Perianth segments free, all 1-nerved. Filaments
densely long-hairy. Ovary sessile. Capsule subspherical to
oblong-ovoid. Seeds (in ours) pyramidal, sharply 3-angled,
sometimes winged. Worldwide: 50 species in tropical and South Africa with a few in Australia. Zimbabwe: 4 taxa. |
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