Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. Raphides present. Leaves and leaflike stipules in whorls of 6-10, sessile, without domatia, with margins minutely antrorsely aculeolate. Inflorescences terminal, pedunculate, capitate, ± many flowered, enclosed by a whorl of free leaflike bracts, flowers subtended by acuminate bracts. Flowers sessile, bisexual, monomorphic. Calyx limb obsolete. Corolla pink, slender, salverform, inside glabrous; lobes 5, valvate in bud. Stamens 5, inserted in corolla tube, included to partially exserted; filaments short; anthers dorsifixed. Ovary 2-celled, smooth, ovules 1 in each cell, erect, basal, anatropous; stigma clavate, shortly 2-lobed at apex, strongly exserted. Fruit schizocarpous, 2 mericarps ellipsoid to obovoid, dry, rather hard, indehiscent, 1-celled, each with 1 ellipsoid to curved, smooth to striate seed.
Home