Flowers 4-merous. Hypanthium tubular to narrowly campanulate. Calyx divided nearly or quite to the torus; sepals lanceolate to ovate, commonly acumin-ate, persistent (in our species) or deciduous after anthesis. Petals medium-sized, usually obovate. Stamens 8 and dimorphic, or rarely only 4 by abortion; filaments slender, smooth; anthers slender, linear or subulate, those of the larger series arcuate, bearing at base a single elongate, erect or ascending, dorsal appendage, those of the smaller series straight, the appendage commonly proportionately longer. Ovary superior, 4-celled, pubescent to setose at the summit; stigma punctiform. Fruit a 4-valved capsule; seeds cochleate. Small shrubs with com-paratively small, linear to ovate, pli-nerved leaves and terminal cymes or cymules of pink, purple, or rarely white flowers.