Monoecious herb (in ours). Indumentum stellate. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or subentire, plicate or bullate when young, bearing 2 discoid glands at base of lamina. Inflorescence lateral or leaf opposed, racemose or paniculate. Male flowers: calyx closed in bud, later splitting into 5 valvate lobes; petals 5; disk 5-lobed; stamens 3-15, the filaments connate into a column; pistillode 0. Female flowers: pedicels often elongated and reflexed in fruit; sepals open in bud, 5; petals 5 or 0; styles 3, 2-fid. Fruit dehiscent, leaving a columella. Worldwide: 6-12 species in the Mediterranean, tropical Africa, extending to Thailand. Zambia: 1 taxon. |
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