Shrubs. Stems 4-sided or obtusely 4-sided, channeled. Leaves petiolate; leaf blade stiffly papery to sometimes membranous, secondary veins 2 or 3 on each side of midvein, margin denticulate. Inflorescences terminal, a cymose panicle, with 2(or 3) leaflike bracts at base. Bractlets and bracteoles very small, caducous. Flower 4-merous. Hypanthium narrowly funnelform, 8-veined. Calyx lobes shortly and broadly triangular or shortly triangular-ovate, apex acute and apiculate. Petals pink, red, or dark red, ovate, apex apiculate and puberulous. Stamens 8, whorls unequal in length. Longer stamens purple; connective swollen and usually not extended at base into a spur. Shorter stamens yellow; connective usually extended at base into a short spur. Ovary inferior, 4-celled, glabrous. Capsule obovoid or ovoid, 4-poricidal; hypanthium narrowly funnelform, apically contracted, 8-ribbed. Seeds numerous, small, triangular-lanceolate, angular.
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