Suffrutex, perennial herb or subshrub. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, spicate or spherical. Bracts overlapping, in 4-6 rows, usually with prominent longitudinal veins, each subtending a single flower. Calyx 2-lipped with upper lip 3-lobed and lower 2-lobed; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla: tube short; limb funnel-shaped, 2-lipped, with a shallowly 2-lobed upper lip. Capsule 2-4-seeded. Seeds with hygroscopic hairs. Worldwide: 20 species from tropical Africa and Arabia to India Zambia: 2 taxa. |
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