Herbs, annual or perennial, usually slender, often diffuse, tufted or ascending, rarely
scrambling, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate, usually entire.
Flowers usually in dichasial cymes, rarely solitary. Sepals 5 or 4, free, often scarious-margined. Petals 5 or 4, 2-fid up to middle or base, rarely emarginate or laciniate, white,
sometimes absent. Stamens 10 or 8, rarely few, hypogynous or perigynous; nectaries
present. Ovary 1-locular, rarely 3-locular; styles 3, rarely 2 - 5.
Capsules globose or ovoid, opening usually by twice as many teeth as styles; -seeds 1-many, tuberculate,
granulate or nearly smooth.
Temperate regions; ca 120 species, 17 species in India.
Notes.
Occurs in various habitats, from plains to alpine regions, often in shady
situations or on rocky slopes, sometimes in open places, also represented in arid regions.
