Anthospermum L.

Ovary 2-locular, each locule containing a single erect ovule. Fruit separating septicidally into 2 cocci, each compressed ellipsoid, ventrally plane or grooved, dorsally convex, indehiscent or sometimes dehiscing ventrally. Seeds conforming in shape to the cocci.. Herbs or small shrubs with glabrous to densely hairy stems. Leaves opposite or verticillate, in whorls of 3(–6), the blades mostly narrow, more rarely ovate or oblong; stipule-sheath adnate to the petioles at base with mostly 1 or less often 2–3 narrow lobes. Flowers mostly small or very small, dioecious, polygamous or hermaphrodite, axillary, sessile or rarely in panicles; bracts minute, 2–3 at base of the ovary. Calyx-tube ovoid, ellipsoid or obovoid, the limb mostly minute, 4–5-toothed or 2–4-lobed, the lobes sometimes ovate. Corolla in ♂ flowers with tube campanulate, funnel-shaped or cylindrical, lobes 4(–5), linear to elliptic-lanceolate, longer or shorter than the tube, often revolute; stamens exserted, the filaments variously inserted at base or the throat of tube; styles 2, or joined at base, often short in ♂ flowers but exserted in hermaphrodite ones; in ♀ flowers the corolla-tube is often very minute with 2–4 reduced erect lobes; styles 2, or joined at the base, the stigmas long and feathery hairy; in certain species they are sometimes very long in certain specimens and form a tangled skein falling over the foliage