Succulent or semi-woody herbs. Leaves opposite, entire or dentate, long-petiolate. Inflorescence cymose; flowers secund, on short stout pedicels, 5-merous. Calyx-tube turbinate, turbinate-campanulate or tubular-campanulate, 5-or 10-ribbed or-angled; lobes small, deciduous. Petals obovate or oblong. Stamens 10, all equal or 5 smaller; anthers linear-oblong; connective little produced, with a small scale-like anterior appendage, the posterior appendage very small or lacking. Ovary adherent to the calyx-tube, 3–5-locular, concave on the upper side, with a surrounding crown of 3–5 firm scales. Capsule crowned by the accrescent woody wedge-like scales exserted well above the calyx. Seeds oblong or obovoid.
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