Herbs or undershrubs, annual or perennial, sometimes with articulate stems and
branches. Leaves opposite, simple, entire, exstipulate. Inflorescence in terminal and
axillary dichasia or scorpioid cymes, sometimes flowers solitary at forks of branches,
regular, small, bisexual, or rarely plants polygamo-monoecious. Calyx gamosepalous,
hypogynous, persistent, 4 -
6 (-7)-lobed, induplicate-valvate in bud. Petals 4 - 6 (-7),
hypogynous, free, clawed at base; claw with an adherent ligular scale, imbricate in bud.
Stamens 4 -
6, or more in 2 series, free or shortly connate at base; anthers small, versatile,
2-loculed, dorsifixed. Ovary free, sessile, composed of 3 - 4 carpels, unilocular; style
slender; stigmas 3 (2 -
4), linear; ovules many in 2 -
3 parietal placentae, anatropous or
amphitropous; funicles slender, long. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, enclosed in persistent
calyx, opening by as many valves as there are placentae; seeds oblong or ovoid, with
subterminal hilum, linear raphe and crustaceous testa; embryo straight, in the centre of
mealy endosperm.
Mediterranean (S. Europe & N. Africa), S.W. Asia, S. Africa, S. United states to S.America, W. and S.E. Australia and New Zealand; 5 genera and ca 75 species, one genus and one species in India.
Mediterranean (S. Europe & N. Africa), S.W. Asia, S. Africa, S. United states to S.America, W. and S.E. Australia and New Zealand; 5 genera and ca 75 species, one genus and one species in India.
