Annual or perennial herbs,
rarely shrubs. Ochreae present. Flowers polygamous and heterostylous, borne in
axillary elongated racemes. Male flowers with a very short tube and
4-5 petaloid perianth segments. Bisexual flowers tubular; perianth segments
persistent, the tube accrescent in fruit. Pedicels of
bisexual flowers lengthening and thickening, those of the male flowers
withering. Stamens 8, in 2 series, 5 outer and 3 inner. Styles 3.
Fruiting perianth unarmed or with 3 prickles, sometimes
winged. Worldwide: 30 species in tropical and South Africa and Madagascar Zimbabwe: 8 taxa. |
|